Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode which are spaced apart from each other in a second direction, light-emitting elements spaced apart from each other in the first direction, a first contact electrode electrically contacting the light-emitting elements, and a second contact electrode electrically contacting the light-emitting elements. The first contact electrode electrically contacts the first electrode through a first contact portion disposed on the first electrode, the second contact electrode electrically contacts the second electrode through a second contact portion disposed on the second electrode, the first contact portion is disposed on an end portion in the first direction of the first contact electrode, and the second contact portion is disposed on an end portion in the first direction of the second contact electrode.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2020-0063105 filed on May 26, 2020 and No.10-2020-0138175 filed on Oct. 23, 2020 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office (KIPO) under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a display device.

2. Description of the Related Art

The importance of display devices is increasing along with thedevelopment of multimedia. Accordingly, various types of displaydevices, such as organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays and liquidcrystal displays (LCDs), are being used.

Display devices are devices that display an image and include a displaypanel such as an organic light-emitting display panel or a liquidcrystal display panel. Among these, the display device may includelight-emitting elements as a light-emitting display panel. For example,a light-emitting diode (LED) may include an OLED that uses an organicmaterial as a light-emitting material, an inorganic light-emitting diodethat uses an inorganic material as a light-emitting material, or thelike.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure provide an inorganic light-emitting elementdisplay device having improved luminous efficiency.

Aspects of the disclosure also provide a display device including anovel electrode structure having improved luminous efficiency.

It should be noted that objects of the disclosure are not limited to theabove-described objects, and other objects of the disclosure will beapparent to those skilled in the art from the following descriptions.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a display device maycomprise a substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode which aredisposed on the substrate, extend in a first direction, and are spacedapart from each other in a second direction, a plurality oflight-emitting elements disposed on the first electrode and the secondelectrode and spaced apart from each other in the first direction, afirst contact electrode disposed on the first electrode and electricallycontacting the plurality of light-emitting elements and a second contactelectrode disposed on the second electrode and electrically contactingthe plurality of light-emitting elements, wherein the first contactelectrode may electrically contact the first electrode through a firstcontact portion disposed on the first electrode, the second contactelectrode may electrically contact the second electrode through a secondcontact portion disposed on the second electrode, the first contactportion may be disposed on an end portion in the first direction of thefirst contact electrode, and the second contact portion may be disposedon an end portion in the first direction of the second contactelectrode.

The plurality of light-emitting elements may be not disposed between thefirst contact portion and the second contact portion spaced apart fromeach other in the second direction.

A light-emitting element area may be an area in which the plurality oflight-emitting elements are disposed, and the first contact portion andthe second contact portion may be spaced apart from the light-emittingelement area in the first direction.

The display device may further comprise an interlayer insulating layerdisposed on the substrate and a plurality of banks disposed between theinterlayer insulating layer and the first and second electrodes, whereinthe first electrode and the second electrode each may include a firstportion disposed directly on the interlayer insulating layer and asecond portion connected to the first portion and disposed directly onthe plurality of banks.

The first contact electrode may be disposed on the first portion of thefirst electrode, the second contact electrode may be disposed on thefirst portion of the second electrode, and the first contact portion andthe second contact portion may be disposed on the first portion of thefirst electrode and the first portion of the second electrode,respectively.

The first electrode and the second electrode each may include a thirdportion that connects the first portion and the second portion, and alength of the first portion in the first direction may be greater than alength of the third portion in the first direction.

A distance between the first portion of the first electrode and thefirst portion of the second electrode may be smaller than a distancebetween the second portion of the first electrode and the second portionof the second electrode.

A width of the first electrode and the second electrode may be greaterthan a width of the first contact electrode and the second contactelectrode.

A distance between the first contact electrode and the second contactelectrode may be smaller than a distance between the first portion ofthe first electrode and the first portion of the second electrode.

A distance between the first portion of the first electrode and thefirst portion the second electrode may be smaller than a length of thelight-emitting element in the second direction.

The display device may further comprise a first insulating layer thatpartially overlaps the first electrode and the second electrode, whereinthe first contact portion and the second contact portion may penetratethrough the first insulating layer to expose a portion of the firstelectrode and a portion of the second electrode, respectively.

The plurality of light-emitting elements may be disposed directly on thefirst insulating layer.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a display device maycomprise a substrate, a plurality of banks disposed on the substrate, afirst electrode and a second electrode which are respectively disposedon the plurality of banks that are different from each other, extend ina first direction, and are spaced apart from each other in a seconddirection, a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed on the firstelectrode and the second electrode and spaced apart from each other inthe first direction, a first contact electrode disposed on the firstelectrode and electrically contacting the plurality of light-emittingelements and a second contact electrode disposed on the second electrodeand electrically contacting the plurality of light-emitting elements,wherein the first contact electrode may electrically contact the firstelectrode through a first contact portion disposed on the firstelectrode, the second contact electrode may electrically contact thesecond electrode through a second contact portion disposed on the secondelectrode, and the first contact portion and the second contact portionmay be spaced apart from the plurality of light-emitting elements in adirection between the first direction and the second direction.

The first electrode and the second electrode each may include a firstportion disposed directly on an interlayer insulating layer and a secondportion connected to the first portion and disposed directly on theplurality of banks, and the first contact portion and the second contactportion may be disposed on the second portion of the first electrode andthe second portion of the second electrode, respectively.

The first contact electrode and the second contact electrode each mayinclude a contact electrode extension part disposed on the firstportion, a contact electrode contact part disposed on the first contactportion or the second contact portion, and a contact electrodeconnection part that electrically connects the contact electrodeextension part and the contact electrode contact part, and the contactelectrode connection part of each of the first and second contactelectrodes may be spaced apart from the plurality of light-emittingelements in the first direction.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a display device maycomprise a substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode which aredisposed on the substrate, extend in a first direction, and are spacedapart from each other in a second direction, a third electrode spacedapart from the first electrode and the second electrode in the seconddirection between the first electrode and the second electrode, a fourthelectrode spaced apart from the first electrode in the first direction,light-emitting elements which include first light-emitting elementshaving first and second end portions disposed on the first electrode andthe third electrode, respectively, and second light-emitting elementshaving first end portions disposed on the second electrode, a firstcontact electrode disposed on the first electrode and electricallycontacting the first light-emitting elements, a second contact electrodedisposed on the second electrode and electrically contacting the secondlight-emitting elements, and a third contact electrode disposed on thethird electrode and electrically contacting the first light-emittingelements, wherein the first contact electrode may electrically contactthe first electrode through a first contact portion disposed on thefirst electrode, the second contact electrode may electrically contactthe second electrode through a second contact portion disposed on thesecond electrode, the third contact electrode may electrically contactthe third electrode through a third contact portion disposed on thethird electrode, the second contact portion may be disposed on an endportion of the second contact electrode in the first direction, and thethird contact portion may be disposed on an end portion of the thirdcontact electrode in the first direction.

The second electrode may include an electrode protrusion protruding froma side of the second electrode in the second direction, the thirdelectrode may include an electrode protrusion protruding from a side ofthe third electrode in the second direction, and the second contactportion and the third contact portion may be disposed on the electrodeprotrusion of the second electrode and the electrode protrusion of thethird electrode, respectively.

The first electrode may include a first electrode extension partextending in the first direction, and an electrode connection partelectrically connected to a side of the first electrode extension partin the first direction and extending in the second direction, and thefirst light-emitting elements may be disposed on the first electrodeextension part of the first electrode and the third electrode.

The first contact portion may be disposed on the electrode connectionpart of the first electrode, and the first contact electrode may includea contact electrode extension part electrically contacting the firstlight-emitting elements, and a contact electrode contact partelectrically connected to the contact electrode extension part anddisposed on the first contact portion.

The display device may comprise a conductive layer including a voltageline and a conductive pattern disposed on the substrate, wherein thefirst electrode may be connected directly to the conductive pattern, andthe second electrode may be connected directly to the voltage line.

The display device may further comprise a fifth electrode spaced apartfrom the fourth electrode in the second direction and spaced apart fromthe third electrode in the first direction, a sixth electrode spacedapart from the fifth electrode in the second direction, a seventhelectrode disposed between the fifth electrode and the sixth electrodeand spaced apart from the second electrode in the first direction, andan eighth electrode spaced apart from the sixth electrode in the firstdirection and spaced apart from the second electrode in the seconddirection, wherein the light-emitting elements may include thirdlight-emitting elements disposed on the fourth electrode and the fifthelectrode, and fourth light-emitting elements disposed on the sixthelectrode and the seventh electrode, and second end portions of thesecond light-emitting elements may be disposed on the eighth electrode.

The third contact electrode may include a part disposed on the fourthelectrode and electrically contacting the third light-emitting elements,and the third contact electrode may electrically contact the fourthelectrode through a contact portion spaced apart from the thirdlight-emitting elements in a direction between the first direction andthe second direction.

The display device may further comprise a fourth contact electrodedisposed on the fifth electrode and the sixth electrode and electricallycontacting the fifth electrode and the sixth electrode through aplurality of contact portions, and a fifth contact electrode disposed onthe seventh electrode and the eighth electrode and electricallycontacting the seventh electrode and the eighth electrode through aplurality of contact portions, wherein some of the plurality of contactportions disposed on the fifth to the eighth electrodes may be spacedapart from the light-emitting elements in the first direction.

At least some of the plurality of contact portions disposed on the fifthto eighth electrodes may be disposed to be spaced apart from thelight-emitting elements in a direction between the first direction andthe second direction.

The first contact portion may be disposed to be spaced apart from thelight-emitting elements in a direction between the first direction andthe second direction.

The display device may further comprise a first insulating layer thatpartially overlaps the first to eighth electrodes, a second insulatinglayer partially disposed on the light-emitting elements and the firstinsulating layer, and a third insulating layer that overlaps the secondinsulating layer, the third contact electrode, and the fourth contactelectrode, wherein the plurality of contact portions may penetratethrough the first insulating layer.

The display device may further comprise a plurality of openings thatpenetrate through the second insulating layer and the third insulatinglayer to expose a portion of an upper surface of the first insulatinglayer, wherein the plurality of openings may include a first openingformed over a portion of the first electrode and the first end portionsof the first light-emitting elements, a second opening formed over aportion of the second electrode and the first end portions of the secondlight-emitting elements and a third opening partially formed on theeighth electrode.

The first contact electrode may be partially disposed in the firstopening, the second contact electrode is partially disposed in thesecond opening, and the third opening is formed to be spaced from thefifth contact electrode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects and features of the disclosure will becomemore apparent by describing embodiments thereof in detail with referenceto the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a display device according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating a pixel of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view illustrating a first subpixel of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along lines Q1-Q1′,Q2-Q2′, and Q3-Q3′ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line Q4-Q4′ ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a light-emitting element according to anembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view illustrating a subpixel of a displaydevice according to another embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic enlarged view of portion B of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view illustrating a subpixel of a displaydevice according to still another embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic enlarged view of portion C of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line Q5-Q5′ ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view illustrating one subpixel of a displaydevice according to yet another embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a schematic enlarged view of portion D of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line Q6-Q6′ ofFIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view illustrating a pixel of a displaydevice according to yet another embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view illustrating a first subpixel of FIG.16;

FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line Q7-Q7′ ofFIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line Q8-Q8′ ofFIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line Q9-Q9′ ofFIG. 17;

FIGS. 21 to 25 are schematic views illustrating some operations of amanufacturing process of the display device of FIG. 16;

FIG. 26 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of adisplay device according to yet another embodiment; and

FIG. 27 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of adisplay device according to yet another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of thedisclosure are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied indifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey thescope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

It will also be understood that when a layer is referred to as being“on” another layer or substrate, it can be directly on the other layeror substrate, or intervening layers may also be present. The samereference numbers indicate the same components throughout thespecification.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another element. For instance, a first elementdiscussed below could be termed a second element without departing fromthe teachings of the disclosure. Similarly, the second element couldalso be termed the first element.

In the specification and the claims, the phrase “at least one of” isintended to include the meaning of “at least one selected from the groupof” for the purpose of its meaning and interpretation. For example, “atleast one of A and B” may be understood to mean “A, B, or A and B.”

Unless otherwise defined or implied herein, all terms (includingtechnical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning ascommonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosurepertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as thosedefined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having ameaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of therelevant art and the disclosure, and should not be interpreted in anideal or excessively formal sense unless clearly so defined herein.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a display device according to anembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, a display device 10 displays a video or a stillimage. The display device 10 may refer to an electronic device thatprovides a display screen. For example, the display device 10 mayinclude a television, a laptop computer, a monitor, a billboard, anInternet of Things (IoT) device, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tabletpersonal computer (PC), an electronic watch, a smartwatch, a watchphone, a head-mounted display, a mobile communication terminal, anelectronic notebook, an e-book, a portable multimedia player (PMP), anavigation system, a game console, a digital camera, and a camcorder,which are provided with a display screen.

The display device 10 may include a display panel that provides adisplay screen. Examples of the display panel may include an inorganiclight-emitting diode display panel, an organic light-emitting displaypanel, a quantum dot light-emitting display panel, a plasma displaypanel, a field emission display panel, or the like. Hereinafter, theinorganic light-emitting diode display panel as the example of thedisplay panel is described, the disclosure is not limited thereto. Forexample, a device to which the same technical concept is applicable maybe applied to other display panels.

A shape of the display device 10 may be variously changed. For example,the display device 10 may have shapes such as a rectangular shape, twosides of which are longer, a square shape, a quadrangular shape, cornerportions (vertexes) of which are round, other polygonal shapes, acircular shape, or the like. A shape of a display area DPA of thedisplay device 10 may also be similar to an overall shape of the displaydevice 10. FIG. 1 illustrates the display device 10 and the display areaDPA, which have a rectangular shape, two sides of which are longer.

The display device 10 may include the display area DPA and a non-displayarea NDA. The display area DPA may be an area in which an image may bedisplayed, and the non-display area NDA may be an area in which an imageis not displayed. The display area DPA may be referred to as an activearea, and the non-display area NDA may be referred to as an inactivearea. The display area DPA may substantially occupy a center of thedisplay device 10.

The display area DPA may include pixels PX. The pixels PX may bearranged in a matrix direction. A shape of each pixel PX may be arectangular shape or a square shape in a plan view, but is not limitedthereto. For example, the shape may be a rhombic shape, each side ofwhich is inclined with respect to a direction. The pixels PX may bealternately arranged as a stripe type or a PENTILE® type. Each of thepixels PX may include one or more light-emitting elements (orlight-emitting diodes) ED that emit light at a specific wavelength,thereby displaying a specific color.

The non-display area NDA may be disposed around or adjacent to thedisplay area DPA. The non-display area NDA may completely or partiallysurround the display area DPA. The display area DPA may have arectangular shape, and the non-display area NDA may be disposed adjacentto the four sides of the display area DPA. The non-display area NDA mayform a bezel of the display device 10. In each non-display area NDA,lines or circuit drivers included in the display device 10 may bedisposed, or external devices may be mounted.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating a pixel of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, each of pixels PX may include subpixels PXn (wheren is an integer from one to three). For example, a pixel PX may includea first subpixel PX1, a second subpixel PX2, and a third subpixel PX3.The first subpixel PX1 may emit light having a first color, the secondsubpixel PX2 may emit light having a second color, and the thirdsubpixel PX3 may emit light having a third color. As an example, thefirst color may be a blue color, the second color may be a green color,and the third color may be a red color. However, the disclosure is notlimited thereto, and the subpixels PXn may emit light having the samecolor. Although FIG. 2 illustrates that the pixel PX includes threesubpixels PXn, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the pixel PXmay include more subpixels PXn.

Each of the subpixels PXn of the display device 10 may include anemission area (or light emission area) EMA and a non-emission area (notshown). The emission area EMA may be an area in which the light-emittingelement ED is disposed so that light having a specific wavelength isemitted therefrom, and the non-emission area may be an area in which thelight-emitting element ED is not disposed so that light emitted from thelight-emitting element ED does not arrive thereat and is not emittedtherefrom. The emission area may include an area in which thelight-emitting element ED is disposed and may include an area which isadjacent to the light-emitting element ED and from which light emittedfrom the light-emitting element ED is emitted.

However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, theemission area EMA may also include an area from which light emitted fromthe light-emitting element ED is emitted by being reflected or refractedby other members. The light-emitting elements ED may be disposed in eachsubpixel PXn, and the emission area EMA may be formed to include anarea, in which the light-emitting elements ED are disposed, and an areaadjacent to the light-emitting elements LD.

Each subpixel PXn may include a cutout area CBA disposed in thenon-emission area. The cutout area CBA may be disposed at a side of theemission area EMA in a second direction DR2. The cutout area CBA may bedisposed between the emission areas EMA of the adjacent subpixels PXn inthe second direction DR2. For example, emission areas EMA and cutoutareas CBA may be arranged in the display area DPA of the display device10. For example, the emission areas EMA and the cutout areas CBA may berepeatedly arranged in a first direction DR1, and the emission area EMAand the cutout area CBA may be alternately arranged in the seconddirection DR2. A second bank BNL2 may be disposed between the cutoutareas CBA and between the emission areas EMA, and a distancetherebetween may vary according to a width of the second bank BNL2.Since the light-emitting element ED is not disposed in the cutout areaCBA, light is not emitted through (or from) the cutout areas CBA, butportions of electrodes RME (e.g., RME1, RME2, etc.) disposed in eachsubpixel PXn may be disposed in the cutout area CBA. The electrodes RMEdisposed in some subpixels PXn may be disposed in the cutout area CBA tobe separated from each other. However, the disclosure is not limitedthereto, and the electrodes RME may be disposed not separated in thecutout area CBA.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view illustrating the first subpixel of FIG.2. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along lines Q1-Q1′,Q2-Q2′, and Q3-Q3′ of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic crosssection traversing both end portions of the light-emitting element EDdisposed in a subpixel PXn.

Describing the display device 10 in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and4 in conjunction with FIG. 2, the display device 10 may include a firstsubstrate SUB, and a semiconductor layer, conductive layers, andinsulating layers which are disposed on the first substrate SUB. Thesemiconductor layer, the conductive layers, and the insulating layersmay form (or constitute) a circuit layer and a light-emitting elementlayer of the display device 10.

The first substrate SUB may be an insulating substrate. The firstsubstrate SUB may be made of an insulating material such as glass,quartz, or a polymer resin. The first substrate SUB may be a rigidsubstrate and may also be a flexible substrate which is bendable,foldable, and rollable.

A light blocking layer BML may be disposed on the first substrate SUB.The light blocking layer BML may be disposed to overlap an active layerACT1 of a first transistor T1. The light blocking layer BML may includea material that blocks light, thereby preventing light from beingincident on the active layer ACT1 of the first transistor T1. Forexample, the light blocking layer BML may be made of (or include) anopaque metal material that blocks light transmission. However, thedisclosure is not limited thereto, and in some embodiments, the lightblocking layer BML may be omitted.

A buffer layer BL may be entirely disposed on the first substrate SUBand the light blocking layer BML. The buffer layer BL may be formed onthe first substrate SUB to protect the first transistor T1 of the pixelPX from moisture permeating through the first substrate SUB that isvulnerable to moisture permeation. The buffer layer BL may perform asurface planarization function.

The semiconductor layer may be disposed on the buffer layer BL. Thesemiconductor layer may include the active layer ACT1 of the firsttransistor T1. The semiconductor layer and the active layer ACT1 may bedisposed to partially overlap a gate electrode G1 or the like of a firstconductive layer to be described below.

FIG. 4 illustrates only the first transistor T1 among transistorsincluded in the subpixel PXn of the display device 10, but thedisclosure is not limited thereto. The display device 10 may includemore transistors. For example, in addition to the first transistor T1,the display device 10 may include two or three transistors for eachsubpixel PXn.

The semiconductor layer may include polycrystalline silicon,monocrystalline silicon, an oxide semiconductor, or the like. In casethat the semiconductor layer includes an oxide semiconductor, eachactive layer ACT1 may include conductive regions and a channel regiontherebetween. The oxide semiconductor may include indium (In). Forexample, the oxide semiconductor may be indium tin oxide (ITO), indiumzinc oxide (IZO), indium gallium oxide (IGO), indium zinc tin oxide(IZTO), indium gallium tin oxide (IGTO), indium gallium zinc oxide(IGZO), indium-gallium zinc tin oxide (IGZTO), or the like.

In another embodiment, the semiconductor layer may includepolycrystalline silicon. Polycrystalline silicon may be formed bycrystallizing amorphous silicon. The conductive regions of the activelayer ACT1 may be doped regions that are doped with impurities.

A first gate insulating layer GI may be disposed on the semiconductorlayer and the buffer layer BL. The first gate insulating layer GI may bedisposed on the buffer layer BL and the semiconductor layer. The firstgate insulating layer GI may function as a gate insulating layer of eachtransistor.

A first conductive layer may be disposed on the first gate insulatinglayer GI. The first conductive layer may include the gate electrode G1of the first transistor T1 and a first capacitance electrode CSE1 of astorage capacitor Cst. The gate electrode G1 may be disposed to overlapthe channel region of the active layer ACT1 in a thickness directionthereof. The first capacitance electrode CSE1 may be disposed to overlapa second capacitance electrode CSE2 described below in the thicknessdirection. In an embodiment, the first capacitance electrode CSE1 may beelectrically connected to the gate electrode G1 or may be integral withthe grate electrode G1. The first capacitance electrode CSE1 may bedisposed to overlap the second capacitance electrode CSE2 in thethickness direction, and the storage capacitor Cst may be formedtherebetween.

A first interlayer insulating layer IL1 may be disposed on the firstconductive layer. The first interlayer insulating layer IL1 may functionas an insulating film between the first conductive layer and otherlayers disposed thereon. The first interlayer insulating layer IL1 maybe disposed to cover or overlap the first conductive layer and perform afunction of protecting the first conductive layer.

A second conductive layer may be disposed on the first interlayerinsulating layer ILL The second conductive layer may include a firstsource electrode S1 and a first drain electrode D1 of the firsttransistor T1, and the second capacitance electrode CSE2.

The first source electrode S1 and the first drain electrode D1 of thefirst transistor T1 may contact the doped regions of the active layerACT1 through contact holes penetrating through the first interlayerinsulating layer IL1 and the first gate insulating layer GI. The firstsource electrode S1 of the first transistor T1 may contact the lightblocking layer BML through another contact hole.

The second capacitance electrode CSE2 may be disposed to overlap thefirst capacitance electrode CSE1 in the thickness direction. In anembodiment, the second capacitance electrode CSE2 may be electricallyconnected to the first source electrode S1 or may be integral with thefirst source electrode S1.

Although not shown in the drawing, the second conductive layer mayfurther include data lines for applying data signals to othertransistors. The data lines may be electrically connected to sourceand/or drain electrode of other transistors to transmit signals appliedto the data lines.

A second interlayer insulating layer IL2 may be disposed on the secondconductive layer. The second interlayer insulating layer IL2 mayfunction as an insulating film between the second conductive layer andother layers disposed thereon. The second interlayer insulating layerIL2 may overlap the second conductive layer to perform a function ofprotecting the second conductive layer.

A third conductive layer may be disposed on the second interlayerinsulating layer IL2. The third conductive layer may include a firstvoltage line VL1, a second voltage line VL2, and a first conductivepattern CDP. A high potential voltage (or a first power voltage) to besupplied to the first transistor T1 may be applied to the first voltageline VL1, and a low potential voltage (or a second power voltage) to besupplied to a second electrode RME2 may be applied to the second voltageline VL2.

The first voltage line VL1 and the second voltage line VL2 of the thirdconductive layer may be disposed to extend in the second direction DR2.The first voltage line VL1 may include a portion that extends in thesecond direction DR2 and is bent in a different direction between thefirst direction DR1 and the second direction DR2. In contrast, thesecond voltage line VL2 may be disposed to extend in the seconddirection DR2 without being bent. The first voltage line VL1 and thesecond voltage line VL2 may be disposed at positions partiallyoverlapping electrodes RME1, RME2, RME3, and RME4 described below in athickness direction thereof. The first voltage line VL1 may be disposedsuch that the portion thereof that extends from a boundary of thesubpixel PXn in the second direction DR2 and is partially bent ispositioned in the emission area EMA. The second voltage line VL2 may bedisposed to traverse the emission area EMA.

The first conductive pattern CDP may be electrically connected to thesecond capacitance electrode CSE2 through a contact hole formed in thesecond interlayer insulating layer IL2. The second capacitance electrodeCSE2 may be integral with the first source electrode S1 of the firsttransistor T1, and the first conductive pattern CDP may be electricallyconnected to the first source electrode S1. The first conductive patternCDP may also contact a first electrode RME1 described below, and thefirst transistor T1 may transmit the first power voltage applied fromthe first voltage line VL1 to the first electrode RME1 through the firstconductive pattern CDP. FIG. 4 illustrates that the third conductivelayer includes a second voltage line VL2 and a first voltage line VL1,but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the thirdconductive layer may include more first voltage lines VL1 and moresecond voltage lines VL2.

The buffer layer BL, the first gate insulating layer GI, the firstinterlayer insulating layer ILL and the second interlayer insulatinglayer IL2 may be provided as inorganic layers which are alternatelystacked. For example, the buffer layer BL, the first gate insulatinglayer GI, the first interlayer insulating layer ILL and the secondinterlayer insulating layer IL2 may be formed as multiple layers inwhich organic layers, which include at least one of silicon oxide(SiO_(x)), silicon nitride (SiN_(x)), and silicon oxynitride(SiO_(x)N_(y)), are alternately stacked.

The first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, and the thirdconductive layer may be formed as a single-layer or a multi-layer madeof at least one of molybdenum (Mo), aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), gold(Au), titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni), neodymium (Nd), and copper (Cu), oralloys thereof. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

A third interlayer insulating layer IL3 may be disposed on the thirdconductive layer. The third interlayer insulating layer IL3 may includean organic insulating material, for example, an organic material such aspolyimide (PI), and may perform a surface planarization function.

As a display element layer, first banks BNL1, electrodes RME1 and RME2,the light-emitting elements ED, contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2, andthe second bank BLN2 may be disposed on the third interlayer insulatinglayer IL3. In addition, insulating layers PAS1, PAS2, and PAS3 may bedisposed on the third interlayer insulating layer IL3.

The first banks BNL1 may be disposed directly on the third interlayerinsulating layer IL3. A first bank BNL1 may have a shape extending inthe first direction DR1 and may be disposed over different adjacentsubpixels PXn. The first bank BNL1 may have a shape extending in thesecond direction DR2 and may be spaced apart from another first bankBNL1 disposed in the same subpixel PXn. For example, each of the firstbanks BNL1 may be formed to have predetermined widths in the firstdirection DR1 and the second direction DR2, a portion thereof may bedisposed in the emission area EMA, and another portion thereof may bedisposed at a boundary of an adjacent subpixel PXn in the firstdirection DR1. The first banks BNL1 may be formed such that a lengththereof measured in the second direction DR2 is greater than a length ofthe emission area EMA measured in the second direction DR2 so that aportion of the first bank BNL1 may overlap the second bank BNL2 in thenon-emission area.

The first banks BNL1 may be disposed in a subpixel PXn. For example, ina subpixel PXn, two first banks BNL1 may be partially disposed in theemission area EMA. The two first banks BNL1 may be spaced apart fromeach other in the first direction DR1. The light-emitting elements EDmay be disposed between the first banks BNL1 spaced apart from eachother in the first direction DR1. In the drawing, two first banks BNL1are illustrated as being disposed in the emission area EMA of eachsubpixel PXn to form an island-shaped pattern, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto. The number of the first banks BNL1 disposed in theemission area EMA of each subpixel PXn may vary according to the numberof the electrodes RME1 and RME2 or the arrangement of the light-emittingelements ED.

The first bank BNL1 may have a structure, at least a portion of whichprotrudes with respect to an upper surface of the third interlayerinsulating layer IL3. The protruding portion of the first bank BNL1 mayhave an inclined side surface, and light emitted from the light-emittingelement ED may be reflected from the electrode RME disposed on the firstbank BNL1 and may be emitted in an upward direction of the thirdinterlayer insulating layer IL3. The first bank BNL1 may provide an areain which the light-emitting element ED is disposed and concurrently mayfunction as a reflective wall that reflects light emitted from thelight-emitting element ED upward. The side surface of the first bankBNL1 may be inclined in a linear shape, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto. The first bank BNL1 may have an outer surface that hasa curved semi-circular or semi-elliptical shape. The first banks BNL1may include an organic insulating material such as PI, but thedisclosure is not limited thereto.

The electrodes RME1 and RME2 may have a shape extending in a directionand may be disposed for each subpixel PXn. The electrodes RME1 and RME2may have a shape extending in the second direction DR2 and may bedisposed for each subpixel PXn to be spaced apart from each other in thefirst direction DR1. The first electrode RME1 and the second electrodeRME2 spaced apart from the first electrode RME1 in the first directionDR1 may be disposed in each subpixel PXn. The light-emitting elements EDmay be disposed on the first electrode RME1 and the second electrodeRME2. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the positionsof the electrodes RME1 and RME2 disposed in each subpixel PXn may varyaccording to the number of the electrodes RME1 and RME2 or the number ofthe light-emitting elements ED disposed in each subpixel PXn.

The first electrode RME1 and the second electrode RME2 may be disposedin the emission area EMA of each subpixel PXn, and a portion of thefirst electrode RME1 and a portion of the second electrode RME2 may bedisposed beyond the emission area EMA to overlap the second bank BNL2 ina thickness direction thereof. The electrodes RME1 and RME2 may extendin the second direction DR2 in the subpixel PXn and may be spaced apartfrom the electrodes REM1 and RME2 of another subpixel PXn in the seconddirection DR2 in the cutout area CBA.

The arrangement of the electrodes RME1 and RME2 may be formed in such amanner that the electrodes RME1 and RME2 are formed as electrode linesextending in the second direction DR2 and then are separated from eachother in a subsequent process after the light-emitting elements ED aredisposed. To align the light-emitting element ED during a manufacturingprocess of the display device 10, the electrode line may be used togenerate an electric field in the subpixel PXn. The light-emittingelements ED may be sprayed on the electrode lines by an inkjet printingprocess, and in case that an ink including the light-emitting elementsED is sprayed on the electrode lines, an alignment signal may be appliedto the electrode lines to generate an electric field. The light-emittingelements ED may be disposed on electrodes by the electric field formedbetween the electrode lines. The light-emitting elements ED dispersed inthe ink may be aligned on the electrodes RME by receiving adielectrophoretic force by the generated electric field. After thelight-emitting elements ED are aligned, a part of the electrode linesmay be disconnected to form the electrodes RME1 and RME2.

The electrodes RME1 and RME2 may be electrically connected to the thirdconductive layer so that a signal for allowing the light-emittingelement ED to emit light may be applied thereto. The first electrodeRME1 may electrically contact the first conductive pattern CDP through afirst contact hole CT1 penetrating through the third interlayerinsulating layer IL3 under the first electrode RME1. The secondelectrode RME2 may electrically contact the second voltage line VL2through a second contact hole CT2 penetrating through the thirdinterlayer insulating layer IL3 under the second electrode RME2. Thefirst electrode RME1 may be electrically connected to the firsttransistor T1 through the first conductive pattern CDP so that the firstpower voltage may be applied thereto, and the second electrode RME2 maybe electrically connected to the second voltage line VL2 so that thesecond power voltage may be applied thereto. The electrodes RME1 andRME2 may be electrically connected to the light-emitting elements ED.The electrodes RME1 and RME2 may be respectively connected electricallyto both end portions of the light-emitting element ED through thecontact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 described below and may transmit anelectrical signal applied from the third conductive layer to thelight-emitting element ED. Since the electrodes RME1 and RME2 aredisposed separately for each subpixel PXn, the light-emitting elementsED of different subpixels PXn may emit light separately.

In the drawing, the first contact hole CT1 and the second contact holeCT2 are illustrated as being formed at positions overlapping the secondbank BNL2, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, eachof the contact holes CT1 and CT2 may be positioned in the emission areaEMA surrounded by the second bank BNL2.

The electrodes RME1 and RME2 disposed for each subpixel PXn may bedisposed on the first banks BNL1 spaced apart from each other. Theelectrodes RME1 and RME2 may be disposed on first sides of the firstbanks BNL1 in the first direction DR1 and disposed on the inclined sidesurfaces of the first banks BNL1. In an embodiment, a width of theelectrodes RME1 and RME2 measured in the first direction DR1 may besmaller than a width of the first bank BNL1 measured in the firstdirection DR1. Each of the electrodes RME1 and RME2 may be disposed tooverlap at least one side surface of the first bank BNL1 to reflectlight emitted from the light-emitting element ED.

A distance between the electrodes RME1 and RME2 in the first directionDR1 may be smaller than a distance between the first banks BNL1. Atleast a partial area of each of the electrodes RME1 and RME2 may bedisposed directly on the third interlayer insulating layer IL3 so thatthe electrodes RME1 and RME2 may be disposed to be coplanar with eachother.

According to an embodiment, the electrodes RME1 and RME2 may transmit anelectrical signal to allow the light-emitting element ED to emit light.To align the light-emitting elements ED during a manufacturing processof the display device 10, the electrodes RME1 and RME2 may be used togenerate an electric field in the subpixel PXn. The light-emittingelements ED may be sprayed on the electrodes RME1 and RME2 by an inkjetprinting process, and in case that an ink including the light-emittingelements ED is sprayed, an alignment signal may be applied to theelectrodes RME1 and RME2 to generate an electric field. Thelight-emitting elements ED dispersed in the ink may be aligned on theelectrodes RME1 and RME2 by receiving a dielectrophoretic force by thegenerated electric field.

Each of the electrodes RME1 and RME2 may include a conductive materialhaving high reflectance. For example, as the conductive material havinghigh reflectance, each of the electrodes RME1 and RME2 may include ametal such as silver (Ag), copper (Cu), or aluminum (Al) or may includean alloy including Al, nickel (Ni), lanthanum (La), or the like. Each ofthe electrodes RME1 and RME2 may reflect light, which is emitted fromthe light-emitting element ED and travels toward the side surface of thefirst bank BNL1, in an upward direction of each subpixel PXn.

However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and each of theelectrodes RME1 and RME2 may further include a transparent conductivematerial. For example, each of the electrodes RME1 and RME2 may includea material such as ITO, IZO, or indium tin zinc oxide (ITZO). In someembodiments, each of the electrodes RME may have a structure in whicheach of a transparent conductive material and a metal layer having highreflectance is stacked as one or more layers or may be formed as asingle layer including the transparent conductive material and the metallayer having high reflectance. For example, each of the electrodes RME1and RME2 may have a stacked structure such as ITO/Ag/ITO/, ITO/Ag/IZO,or ITO/Ag/ITZO/IZO.

A first insulating layer PAS1 may be disposed on the electrodes RME1 andRME2 and the first banks BNL1. The first insulating layer PAS1 may bedisposed to overlap the first banks BNL1, the first electrode RME1, andthe second electrode RME2 and may be disposed such that upper surfacesof the first electrode RME1 and the second electrode RME2 are partiallyexposed. Openings may be formed in the first insulating layer PAS1 toexpose portions of the upper surfaces of the electrodes RME1 and RME2disposed on the first bank BNL1, and the contact electrodes CNE1 andCNE2 may electrically contact the electrodes RME1 and RME2 through theopenings.

In an embodiment, a stepped portion may be formed in the firstinsulating layer PAS1 so that a portion of an upper surface thereof isrecessed between the first electrode RME1 and the second electrode RME2.Since the first insulating layer PAS1 is disposed to overlap the firstelectrode RME1 and the second electrode RME2, the first insulating layerPAS1 may be formed to be stepped therebetween (or have portions withdifferent heights). However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. Thefirst insulating layer PAS1 may protect the first electrode RME1 and thesecond electrode RME2 and insulate the first electrode RME1 and thesecond electrode RME2 from each other. The first insulating layer PAS1may prevent the light-emitting element ED disposed on the firstinsulating layer PAS1 from being damaged by a direct contact with othermembers.

The second bank BNL2 may be disposed on the first insulating layer PAS1.The second bank BNL2 may be disposed in a grid pattern that includesparts extending in the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2in a plan view. The second bank BNL2 may be disposed over boundaries ofthe subpixels PXn to distinguish the subpixels PXn from each other. Thesecond bank BNL2 may be disposed to surround the emission area EMA andthe cutout area CBA disposed for each subpixel PXn to distinguish theemission area EMA from the cutout area CBA. In the part of the secondbank BNL2 extending in the second direction DR2, a portion thereofdisposed between the emission areas EMA may have a width greater thanthat of a portion thereof disposed between the cutout areas CBA. Adistance between the cutout areas CBA may be smaller than a distancebetween the emission areas EMA.

The second bank BNL2 may be formed to have a height greater than that ofthe first bank BNL1. The second bank BNL2 may prevent inks fromoverflowing to adjacent subpixels PXn in an inkjet printing process of amanufacturing process of the display device 10, thereby separating theinks, in which different light-emitting elements ED are dispersed fordifferent subpixels PXn, from each other so as to not be mixed with eachother. Since a first bank BNL1 is disposed across the adjacent subpixelPXn in the first direction DR1, a portion of the part of the second bankBNL2 extending in the second direction DR2 may be disposed on the firstbank BNL1. Similar to the first bank BNL1, the second bank BNL2 mayinclude PI, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

The light-emitting elements ED may be disposed on the first insulatinglayer PAS1. The light-emitting elements ED may be spaced apart from eachother in the second direction DR2 in which the electrodes RME1 and RME2extend, and may be aligned substantially parallel to each other. Thelight-emitting element ED may have a shape extending in a direction andmay be disposed such that the direction in which the light-emittingelement ED extends is substantially perpendicular to the direction inwhich the electrodes RME1 and RME2 extend. However, the disclosure isnot limited thereto, and the light-emitting element ED may be disposedto be angled with respect to the extending direction of the electrodesRME1 and RME2.

The light-emitting element ED may include semiconductor layers which aredoped with different types of dopants. The light-emitting element ED mayinclude the semiconductor layers and may be oriented such that an endportion thereof faces in a specific direction according to a directionof an electric field generated on the electrodes RME1 and RME2. Thelight-emitting element ED may include a light-emitting layer 36 (seeFIG. 7) to emit light having a specific wavelength. The light-emittingelements ED disposed in each subpixel PXn may emit light havingdifferent wavelengths according to materials forming the light-emittinglayer 36. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and thelight-emitting elements ED disposed in each subpixel PXn may emit lighthaving the same color.

The light-emitting element ED may be disposed on each of the electrodesRME1 and RME2 between the first banks BNL1. For example, thelight-emitting element ED may be disposed such that an end portionthereof is placed on the first electrode RME1 and another end portionthereof is placed on the second electrode RME2. An extended length ofthe light-emitting element ED may be greater than the distance betweenthe first electrode RME1 and the second electrode RME2, and both endportions of the light-emitting element ED may be disposed on the firstelectrode RME1 and the second electrode RME2.

In the light-emitting element ED, layers may be disposed in a directionperpendicular to an upper surface of the first substrate SUB. Thelight-emitting element ED of the display device 10 may be disposed suchthat a direction in which the light-emitting element ED extends isparallel to the first substrate SUB, and the semiconductor layersincluded in the light-emitting element ED may be sequentially disposedin a direction parallel to the upper surface of the first substrate SUB.However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, incase that the light-emitting element ED has a different structure, thelayers may be disposed in a direction perpendicular to the firstsubstrate SUB.

Both end portions of the light-emitting element ED may electricallycontact the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2. Since the semiconductorlayer is partially exposed on surfaces of end portions of thelight-emitting element ED, where an insulating film 38 (see FIG. 7) isnot formed, in a direction in which the light-emitting element EDextends, the exposed semiconductor layer may contact the contactelectrodes CNE1 and CNE2. However, the disclosure is not limitedthereto. In some embodiments, in the light-emitting element ED, at leasta partial area of the insulating film 38 may be removed, and theinsulating film 38 may be removed to partially expose side surfaces ofboth end portions of the semiconductor layers. The exposed side surfacesof the semiconductor layer may directly contact the contact electrodesCNE1 and CNE2.

A second insulating layer PAS2 may be partially disposed on the firstinsulating layer PAS1 and the light-emitting element ED. The secondinsulating layer PAS2 may also be disposed on the second bank BNL2. Asan example, the second insulating layer PAS2 may be disposed topartially surround an outer surface of the light-emitting element ED anddisposed not to cover (or overlap) an end portion and another endportion of the light-emitting element ED. Portions of the secondinsulating layer PAS2 may be disposed on the first insulating layer PAS1on portions of the first banks BNL1 on which the first electrode RME1and the second electrode RME2 are disposed. For example, the secondinsulating layer PAS2 may be disposed on the first insulating layerPAS1, the second bank BNL2, and the light-emitting element ED in theemission area EMA and may be disposed to expose both end portions of thelight-emitting element ED as well as partially expose portions on whichthe electrodes RME1 and RME2 are disposed. Such a shape of the secondinsulating layer PAS2 may be formed by a process of a manufacturingprocess of the display device 10, in which the second insulating layerPAS2 is entirely disposed on the first insulating layer PAS1 and thesecond bank BNL2 and then is removed to expose both end portions of thelight-emitting element ED. A portion of the second insulating layer PAS2disposed on the light-emitting element ED may be disposed to extend inthe second direction DR2 on the first insulating layer PAS1 in a planview, thereby forming a linear or island-shaped pattern in each subpixelPXn. The second insulating layer PAS2 may protect the light-emittingelement ED and affix the light-emitting element ED in a manufacturingprocess of the display device 10. The second insulating layer PAS2 maybe disposed to fill a space between the light-emitting element ED andthe first insulating layer PAS1 under the light-emitting element ED.

Although not shown in the drawings, a portion of the second insulatinglayer PAS2 may be disposed in the cutout area CBA. The electrodes RME1and RME2 disposed in the subpixels PXn may be formed to extend in thesecond direction DR2 in a state of being connected to each other andthen may be separated in the cutout area CBA after the light-emittingelements ED are aligned and the second insulating layer PAS2 are formed.In a separation process of the electrodes RME1 and RME2, each of theelectrodes RME1 and RME2, the first insulating layer PAS1, and thesecond insulating layer PAS2 may be removed together, and in removedportions of the electrodes RME1 and RME2, the first insulating layerPAS1, and the second insulating layer PAS2, a third insulating layerPAS3 described below may be disposed directly on the third interlayerinsulating layer IL3. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto,and the third insulating layer PAS3 may also be removed in portions atwhich the electrodes RME1 and RME2 are separated in the cutout area CBAso that a portion of the third interlayer insulating layer IL3 may beexposed. As another example, another insulating layer disposed on thethird insulating layer PAS3 to cover or overlap each member may bedisposed directly on the third interlayer insulating layer IL3.

The contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 and the third insulating layer PAS3may be disposed on the second insulating layer PAS2. The first contactelectrode CNE1 and the second contact electrode CNE2 of the contactelectrodes (CNE1 and CNE2) may be disposed on a portion of the firstelectrode RME1 and a portion of the second electrode RME2, respectively.The first contact electrode CNE1 may be disposed on the first electrodeRME1, and the second contact electrode CNE2 may be disposed on thesecond electrode RME2. The first contact electrode CNE1 and the secondcontact electrode CNE2 may each have a shape extending in the seconddirection DR2. The first contact electrode CNE1 and the second contactelectrode CNE2 may be spaced apart from and face each other in the firstdirection DR1 and may form linear patterns in the emission area EMA ofeach subpixel PXn.

The contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 may contact the light-emittingelements ED and the electrodes RME1 and RME2. The semiconductor layermay be exposed on surfaces of both end portions of the light-emittingelement ED in a direction in which the light-emitting element EDextends, and the first contact electrode CNE1 and the second contactelectrode CNE2 may contact the surfaces of the end portions of thelight-emitting element ED at which the semiconductor layer is exposed.One end portion of the light-emitting element ED may be electricallyconnected to the first electrode RME1 through the first contactelectrode CNE1, and another end portion thereof may be electricallyconnected to the second electrode RME2 through the second contactelectrode CNE2.

In the drawing, a first contact electrode CNE1 and a second contactelectrode CNE2 are illustrated as being disposed in a subpixel PXn, butthe disclosure is not limited thereto. The number of the first andsecond contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 may vary according to the numberof the first and second electrodes RME1 and RME2 disposed in eachsubpixel PXn.

The contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 may include a conductive material.For example, the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 may include ITO, IZO,ITZO, aluminum (Al), or the like. As an example, the contact electrodesCNE1 and CNE2 may include a transparent conductive material, and lightemitted from the light-emitting element ED may penetrate through thecontact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 and travel toward the electrodes RME1and RME2. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Light may be generated in the light-emitting layer 36 (see FIG. 7), andmost of the light may be emitted through both end portions of thelight-emitting element ED electrically contacting the contact electrodesCNE1 and CNE2. The light emitted from the light-emitting element ED maypenetrate through the transparent contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2, maybe reflected by the electrodes RME1 and RME2 disposed on the inclinedside surfaces of the first bank BNL1, and may be emitted in an upwarddirection of the first substrate SUB. However, a portion of the lightmay be incident on the first insulating layer PAS1 disposed under thelight-emitting element ED. The first insulating layer PAS1 and thecontact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 may have different refractive indices,and the portion of the light incident on the first insulating layer PAS1may be reflected at interfaces with the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2and thus may not emitted.

In the display device 10, the interfaces between the first insulatinglayer PAS1 and the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 having differentrefractive indices may be minimized (or reduced) to minimize (or reduce)an amount of light that is emitted from the light-emitting element EDbut may not be emitted from the first insulating layer PAS1. In anembodiment, the first contact electrode CNE1 and the second contactelectrode CNE2 may be formed such that a width DC thereof measured in adirection is smaller than a width DM of the first electrode RME1 and thesecond electrode RME2 measured in the direction, and thus, the contactelectrodes CNE1 and CNE2 may be formed to have a minimum width.

As an example, the first contact electrode CNE1 and the second contactelectrode CNE2 may electrically contact an end portion and another endportion of the light-emitting element ED, respectively, and the firstcontact electrode CNE1 and the second contact electrode CNE2 may bedisposed to cover or overlap only portions of the upper surfaces of thefirst electrode RME1 and the second electrode RME2, which are disposedon the third interlayer insulating layer IL3. For example, the contactelectrodes CNE1 and CNE2 may not be disposed on the inclined sidesurfaces of the first banks BNL1, and light reflected by the electrodesRME1 and RME2 on the inclined side surfaces may penetrate through thefirst insulating layer PAS1 to be smoothly emitted.

The first contact electrode CNE1 and the second contact electrode CNE2may electrically contact the electrodes RME1 and RME2 through contactportions CTD and CTS penetrating through the first insulating layer PAS1to expose portions of the upper surfaces of the electrodes RME1 andRME2, respectively. In case that the contact portions CTD and CTS are inan optical path through which light emitted from both end portions ofthe light-emitting element ED travels, the interfaces between the firstinsulating layer PAS1 and the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 may beformed, and the light may be reflected at the interfaces, therebyresulting in a decrease in luminous efficiency. In the display device 10according to an embodiment, the contact portions CTD and CTS throughwhich the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 electrically contact theelectrodes RME1 and RME2 may be formed to avoid the optical path of thelight emitted from the light-emitting element ED. In the display device10, in addition to the width and arrangement of the contact electrodesCNE1 and CNE2, the positions of the contact portions CTD and CTS may bedesigned such that light emitted from the light-emitting element ED issmoothly emitted, thereby improving the luminous efficiency of the lightgenerated in the light-emitting element ED. This will be described inmore detail below with reference to other drawings.

The third insulating layer PAS3 may be disposed between the firstcontact electrode CNE1 and the second contact electrode CNE2. The thirdinsulating layer PAS3 may be disposed on the first contact electrodeCNE1 and may also be disposed on the second insulating layer PAS2 otherthan an area in which the second contact electrode CNE2 is disposed. Thethird insulating layer PAS3 may be entirely disposed on the firstinsulating layer PAS1 other than a portion of the electrodes RME1 andRME2, on which the second contact electrode CNE2 is disposed. The thirdinsulating layer PAS3 may insulate the first contact electrode CNE1 andthe second contact electrode CNE2 from each other so as not to directlycontact each other. For example, in an embodiment, the first contactelectrode CNE1 and the second contact electrode CNE2 may be disposed ondifferent layers. The first contact electrode CNE1 may be disposeddirectly on the second insulating layer PAS2, and the second contactelectrode CNE2 may be disposed directly on the third insulating layerPAS3. However, in areas in which the second insulating layer PAS2 andthe third insulating layer PAS3 are not disposed and both end portionsof the light-emitting element ED are exposed, the first contactelectrode CNE1 and the second contact electrode CNE2 may be disposeddirectly on the first insulating layer PAS1.

However, the third insulating layer PAS3 may be disposed between thefirst contact electrode CNE1 and the second contact electrode CNE2 toinsulate the first contact electrode CNE1 and the second contactelectrode CNE2 from each other, but as described above, the thirdinsulating layer PAS3 may be omitted. In this case, the first contactelectrode CNE1 and the second contact electrode CNE2 may be disposed tobe coplanar with each other.

Although not shown in the drawing, an insulating layer may be furtherdisposed on the third insulating layer PAS3, the contact electrodes CNE1and CNE2, and the second bank BNL2 to overlap the third insulating layerPAS3, the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2, and the second bank BNL2.The insulating layer may be entirely disposed on the first substrate SUBto perform a function of protecting members disposed on the firstsubstrate SUB from an external environment.

Each of the first insulating layer PAS1, the second insulating layerPAS2, and the third insulating layer PAS3 may include an inorganicinsulating material or an organic insulating material. In an embodiment,the first insulating layer PAS1, the second insulating layer PAS2, andthe third insulating layer PAS3 may include an inorganic insulatingmaterial such as silicon oxide (SiO_(x)), silicon nitride (SiN_(x)),silicon oxynitride (SiO_(x)N_(y)), aluminum oxide (AlO_(x)), or aluminumnitride (AlN_(x)). As another example, the first insulating layer PAS1,the second insulating layer PAS2, and the third insulating layer PAS3may include an organic insulating material such as an acrylic resin, anepoxy resin, a phenol resin, a polyamide resin, a PI resin, anunsaturated polyester resin, a polyphenylene resin, a polyphenylenesulfide resin, benzocyclobutene, a cardo resin, a siloxane resin, asilsesquioxane resin, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, or apolymethyl methacrylate-polycarbonate synthetic resin. However, thedisclosure is not limited thereto.

As described above, in the display device 10 according to an embodiment,the arrangement of the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 and thepositions of the contact portions CTD and CTS may be designed such thatlight emitted from the light-emitting element ED is smoothly emitted.Hereinafter, the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 and the contactportions CTD and CTS will be described in more detail with furtherreference to other drawings.

FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is aschematic cross-sectional view taken along line Q4-Q4′ of FIG. 5. FIG. 5is a schematic enlarged view of a portion in which the light-emittingelements ED and the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 are disposed on theelectrodes RME1 and RME2, and FIG. 6 illustrates a cross sectiontraversing a first contact portion CTD and a second contact portion CTS.

Further referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 in conjunction with FIG. 4, the firstcontact electrode CNE1 and the second contact electrode CNE2 may have ashape extending in the second direction DR2 and may each contact an endportion of the light-emitting element ED and disposed on the electrodesRME1 and RME2. The first contact electrode CNE1 and the second contactelectrode CNE2 may contact the light-emitting element ED and theelectrodes RME1 and RME2 and be disposed only in a minimum area in apath through which light emitted from the light-emitting element EDtravels. According to an embodiment, the first and second contactelectrodes CNE1 and CNE2 may have a width measured in the firstdirection DR1 smaller than a width of the first electrode RME1 and thesecond electrode RME2 measured in the first direction DR1 and may bedisposed on portions of the electrodes RME1 and RME2, which are disposeddirectly on the third interlayer insulating layer IL3.

Each of the electrodes RME1 and RME2 may be disposed on the first bankBNL1, and at least a portion thereof may be disposed directly on thethird interlayer insulating layer IL3. Each of the electrodes RME1 andRME2 may include a first portion RM_L disposed directly on the thirdinterlayer insulating layer IL3 and a second portion RM_U disposed on anupper surface and the inclined side surface of the first bank BNL1. Thefirst portion RM_L may be disposed at a lower level than the secondportion RM_U, and the light-emitting elements ED may be disposed on thefirst portions RM_L of the first electrode RME1 and the second electrodeRME2. The distance between the first electrode RME1 and the secondelectrode RME2 may be a distance between the first portions RM_L, andthe distance may be smaller than a length of the light-emitting elementED.

The first contact electrode CNE1 may be disposed on the first portionRM_L of the first electrode RME1, and the second contact electrode CNE2may be disposed on the first portion RM_L of the second electrode RME2.Since the first contact electrode CNE1 and the second contact electrodeCNE2 have a width so as not to be disposed on the second portion RM_Udisposed on the first bank BNL1, the first contact electrode CNE1 andthe second contact electrode CNE2 may not overlap the first bank BNL1 ina thickness direction thereof. However, the width or position of thefirst contact electrode CNE1 and the second contact electrode CNE2 maybe adjusted such that the first contact electrode CNE1 and the secondcontact electrode CNE2 may smoothly contact both end portions of thelight-emitting element ED. In an embodiment, a distance between thefirst contact electrode CNE1 and the second contact electrode CNE2 maybe smaller than the distance between the first portions RM_L of thefirst electrode RME1 and the second electrode RME2. The first contactelectrode CNE1 and the second contact electrode CNE2 may have a widthsufficient to contact both end portions of the light-emitting element EDdisposed on the first portions RM_L.

Most of light generated by the light-emitting element ED may be emittedthrough both end portions of the light-emitting element ED contactingthe contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2. At least a portion of the lightmay be incident on the first insulating layer PAS1 from the both endportions. In case that a material forming the contact electrodes CNE1and CNE2 has a refractive index higher than that of a material formingthe first insulating layer PAS1, a certain amount of the light incidenton the first insulating layer PAS1 may be reflected at the interfaceswith the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 and thus may not be emitted.To minimize an amount of light that is lost without being emitted fromthe first insulating layer PAS1, it is possible to minimize an area inwhich the first insulating layer PAS1 and the contact electrodes CNE1and CNE2 form interfaces. In particular, a width of the contactelectrodes CNE1 and CNE2 may be designed such that the first insulatinglayer PAS1 and the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 do not form aninterface on the inclined side surface of the first bank BNL1, at whichthe light is reflected. Since the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 aredisposed only on the first portions RM_L of the electrodes RME1 and RME2and are not disposed on the inclined side surface of the first bankBNL1, light which is incident on the first insulating layer PAS1 and isreflected at the interfaces with the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2,may also be reflected by the electrodes RME1 and RME2 disposed on theside surfaces of the first banks BNL1 to be emitted to the outside. Inthe display device 10 according to an embodiment, since the contactelectrodes CNE1 and CNE2 are disposed only on the first portions RM_L ofthe electrodes RME1 and RME2, it is possible to reduce an amount oflight that is lost while being incident on the first insulating layerPAS1 among light beams emitted from the light-emitting element ED and toimprove the luminous efficiency of each subpixel PXn.

The first contact electrode CNE1 and the second contact electrode CNE2may electrically contact the first electrode RME1 and the secondelectrode RME2 through the first contact portion CTD and the secondcontact portion CTS, respectively. The first contact portion CTD maypenetrate through the first insulating layer PAS1 to expose a portion ofthe upper surface of the first electrode RME1, and the second contactportion CTS may penetrate through the first insulating layer PAS1 toexpose a portion of the upper surface of the second electrode RME2.First contact portions CTD and second contact portions CTS may bedisposed for each subpixel PXn. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates that twofirst contact portions CTD and two second contact portions CTS, forexample, a pair of contact portions CTD and a pair of contact portionsCTS, are disposed, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Forexample, more first contact portions CTD and more second contactportions CTS may be disposed.

Since the first contact portion CTD and the second contact portion CTSeach penetrate through the first insulating layer PAS1, the contactelectrodes CNE1 and CNE2 disposed in the first contact portion CTD andthe second contact portion CTS may form interfaces with the firstinsulating layer PAS1. As described above, in case that the interfacesbetween the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 and the first insulatinglayer PAS1 are formed, light traveling in the first insulating layerPAS1 may be reflected at the interfaces and thus may be not emitted. Toprevent light from being lost without being emitted because of thecontact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 disposed in the contact portions CTDand CTS, the display device 10 may include the contact portions CTD andCTS to avoid an optical path of the light-emitting element ED.

The light-emitting elements ED may emit light through both end portionsthereof, and the light may be emitted in a direction in which thelight-emitting elements ED extend. According to an embodiment, thecontact portions CTD and CTS may be disposed to be spaced apart from alight-emitting element area EDA, in which the light-emitting elements EDare disposed, in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which thelight-emitting elements ED extend. The light-emitting elements ED may bedisposed on the electrodes RME1 and RME2, and in each subpixel PXn, thelight-emitting element area EDA, in which the light-emitting elements EDconfigured to emit light are disposed, may be defined within theemission area EMA. Based on the light-emitting element area EDA, anarea, through which light emitted from the light-emitting element EDtravels, may be present in the direction in which the light-emittingelement ED extends, for example, in the first direction DR1, and thecontact portions CTD and CTS may not be disposed in the area throughwhich the light travels.

As an example, the plurality of contact portions CTD and CTS may bedisposed on end portions in the second direction DR2 of the contactelectrodes CNE1 and CNE2. The first contact portions CTD are disposed onend portions in the second direction DR2 of the first contact electrodeCNE1, and the second contact portions CTS are disposed on end portionsin the second direction DR2 of the second contact electrode CNE2. Also,the contact portions CTD and CTS may be disposed to be spaced apart fromthe light-emitting elements ED and the light-emitting element area EDAin the second direction DR2. A pair of first contact portions CTD may bedisposed on the first portion RM_L of the first electrode RME1 and maybe disposed to be spaced apart from each other at one side and anotherside of the light-emitting element area EDA in the second direction DR2.Similarly, a pair of second contact portions CTS may be disposed on thefirst portion RM_L of the second electrode RME2 and may be disposed tobe spaced apart from each other at a side and another side of thelight-emitting element area EDA in the second direction DR2. In thelight-emitting element area EDA, the light-emitting elements ED may bearranged in the second direction DR2, and arbitrary reference lines RL1and RL2 may be defined in extending directions of the uppermostlight-emitting element ED and the lowermost light-emitting element EDthereof.

The reference lines RL1 and RL2 may include a first reference line RL1that extends across both end portions of the uppermost light-emittingelement ED and a second reference line RL2 that extends across both endportions of the lowermost light-emitting element ED. Areas between thefirst reference line RL1 and the second reference line RL2 may be bothside areas of the light-emitting element area EDA in the first directionDR1 and may be areas in which light emitted from the light-emittingelements ED travels. According to an embodiment, the contact portionsCTD and CTS may be disposed outside an area between the first referenceline RL1 and the second reference line RL2 and may be spaced apart fromthe first reference line RL1 and the second reference line RL2 in thesecond direction DR2. Since the contact portions CTD and CTS are notdisposed between the first reference line RL1 and the second referenceline RL2, it is possible to minimize a portion of light emitted from thelight-emitting element ED being reflected at the interfaces between thecontact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 and the first insulating layer PAS1.For example, the light-emitting elements ED may not be disposed in anarea between the first contact portion CTD and the second contactportion CTS in the first direction DR1.

Even in case that the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 are disposed onthe first portions RM_L of the electrodes RME1 and RME2, the contactportions CTD and CTS may be disposed outside the area between thereference lines RL1 and RL2 and may not be disposed between both endportions of the light-emitting element ED and the first bank BNL1. Sincelight emitted from the end portion of the light-emitting element ED isnot reflected at the interfaces between the first insulating layer PAS1and the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 until being reflected by theelectrodes RME1 and RME2 disposed on the inclined side surfaces of thefirst banks BNL1, even in case that most of light is incident on thefirst insulating layer PAS1, most of the light can be smoothly emitted.In the display device 10 according to an embodiment, even in case thatthe first insulating layer PAS1 and the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2have different refractive indices, it is possible to prevent lightemitted from the light-emitting element ED from being reflected at theinterfaces between the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 and the firstinsulating layer PAS1 and thus not being emitted. In the display device10, the arrangement of the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 and thecontact portions CTD and CTS may be designed to prevent a decrease inluminous efficiency of light emitted from the light-emitting element ED.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a light-emitting element according to anembodiment.

A light-emitting element ED may be a light-emitting diode, andspecifically, the light-emitting element ED may be an inorganiclight-emitting diode which has a size of a micrometer or nanometer unitand is made of an inorganic material. In case that an electric field isformed between two facing electrodes in a specific direction, theinorganic light-emitting diode may be aligned between the two electrodesbetween which a polarity is formed. The light-emitting element ED may bealigned between electrodes by an electric field formed on the twoelectrodes.

The light-emitting element ED according to an embodiment may have ashape extending in a direction. The light-emitting element ED may have ashape such as a cylinder, a rod, a wire, or a tube. However, the shapeof the light-emitting element ED is not limited thereto, and thelight-emitting element ED may have various shapes such as a polygonalcolumn shape such as a regular hexahedron, a rectangular parallelepiped,or a hexagonal column, and a shape which extends in a direction and hasa partially inclined outer surface. Semiconductors to be described belowincluded in the light-emitting element ED may have a structure in whichthey are sequentially disposed or stacked in the direction.

The light-emitting element ED may include a semiconductor layer dopedwith a conductive (for example, a p-type or n-type) impurities. Thesemiconductor layer may emit light at a specific wavelength by receivingan electrical signal applied from an external power source.

Referring to FIG. 7, the light-emitting element ED may include a firstsemiconductor layer 31, a second semiconductor layer 32, alight-emitting layer 36, an electrode layer 37, and an insulating film38.

The first semiconductor layer 31 may be an n-type semiconductor. In casethat the light-emitting element ED emits light having a blue wavelength,the first semiconductor layer 31 may include a semiconductor materialhaving a formula of Al_(x)Ga_(y)In_(1-x-y)N (0≤x≤1, 0≤y≤1, and 0≤x+y≤1).For example, the first semiconductor layer 31 may include at least oneselected from among AlGaInN, GaN, AlGaN, InGaN, AlN, and InN which aredoped with n-type impurities. The first semiconductor layer 31 may bedoped with an n-type dopant, and the n-type dopant may be silicon (Si),germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), or the like. For example, the firstsemiconductor layer 31 may include n-GaN doped with n-type Si. The firstsemiconductor layer 31 may have a length ranging from about 1.5 μm toabout 5 μm, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. A first endportion of the light-emitting element ED may be a portion at which thefirst semiconductor layer 31 is disposed based on the light-emittinglayer 36.

The second semiconductor layer 32 may be disposed on the light-emittinglayer 36 to be described below. The second semiconductor layer 32 may bea p-type semiconductor, and in case that the light-emitting element EDemits light having a blue or green wavelength, the second semiconductorlayer 32 may include a semiconductor material having a formula ofAl_(x)Ga_(y)In_(1-x-y)N (0≤x≤1, 0≤y≤1, and 0≤x+y≤1). For example, thesecond semiconductor layer 32 may include at least one selected fromamong AlGaInN, GaN, AlGaN, InGaN, AlN, and InN which are doped withp-type impurities. The second semiconductor layer 32 may be doped with ap-type dopant, and the p-type dopant may be magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn),calcium (Ca), selenium (Se), barium (Ba), or the like. For example, thesecond semiconductor layer 32 may include p-GaN doped with p-type Mg.The second semiconductor layer 32 may have a length ranging from about0.05 μm to about 0.10 μm, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Asecond end portion of the light-emitting element ED may be a portion atwhich the second semiconductor layer 32 is disposed based on thelight-emitting layer 36.

In the drawing, the first semiconductor layer 31 and the secondsemiconductor layer 32 are illustrated as being formed as a singlelayer, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The firstsemiconductor layer 31 and the second semiconductor layer 32 may furtherinclude more layers, for example, a clad layer or a tensile strainbarrier reducing (TSBR) layer depending on a material of thelight-emitting layer 36.

The light-emitting layer 36 may be disposed between the firstsemiconductor layer 31 and the second semiconductor layer 32. Thelight-emitting layer 36 may include a material having a single ormulti-quantum well structure. In case that the light-emitting layer 36includes a material having a multi-quantum well structure, thelight-emitting layer 36 may have a structure in which quantum layers andwell layers are alternately stacked. The light-emitting layer 36 mayemit light by electron-hole pair recombination according to anelectrical signal applied through the first semiconductor layer 31 andthe second semiconductor layer 32. In case that the light-emitting layer36 emits light having a blue wavelength, the light-emitting layer 36 mayinclude a material such as AlGaN or AlGaInN. In case that thelight-emitting layer 36 has a structure in which quantum layers and welllayers are alternately stacked in a multi-quantum well structure, thequantum layer may include a material such as AlGaN or AlGaInN, and thewell layer may include a material such as GaN or AlInN. For example, thelight-emitting layer 36 may include AlGaInN as the quantum layer andAlInN as the well layer. Thus, as described above, the light-emittinglayer 36 may emit blue light having a central wavelength ranging fromabout 450 nm to about 495 nm.

However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the light-emittinglayer 36 may have a structure in which a semiconductor material havinghigh band gap energy and a semiconductor material having low band gapenergy are alternately stacked or may include other Group III to Vsemiconductor materials according to a wavelength of emitted light.Light emitted by the light-emitting layer 36 is not limited to lighthaving a blue wavelength, and in some embodiments, the light-emittinglayer 36 may emit light having a red or green wavelength. Thelight-emitting layer 36 may have a length ranging from about 0.05 μm toabout 0.10 μm, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Light emitted from the light-emitting layer 36 may be emitted not onlyto an outer surface of the light-emitting element ED in a lengthdirection thereof but also to both side surfaces of the light-emittingelement ED. The direction of the light emitted from the light-emittinglayer 36 is not limited to a direction.

The electrode layer 37 may be an ohmic contact electrode. However, thedisclosure is not limited thereto, and the electrode layer 37 may be aSchottky contact electrode. The light-emitting element ED may include atleast one electrode layer 37. In FIG. 7, the light-emitting element EDis illustrated as including an electrode layer 37, but the disclosure isnot limited thereto. In some embodiments, the light-emitting element EDmay include more electrode layers 37, or the electrode layer 37 may beomitted. Even in case that the number of the electrode layers 37 ischanged or the light-emitting element ED further includes otherstructures, the same may be applied to the description of thelight-emitting element ED described below.

In a display device 10 according to an embodiment, in case that thelight-emitting element ED is electrically connected to an electrode or acontact electrode, the electrode layer 37 may reduce resistance betweenthe light-emitting element ED and the electrode or the contactelectrode. The electrode layer 37 may include a material havingconductivity. For example, the electrode layer 370 may include at leastone selected from among aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), indium (In), gold(Au), silver (Ag), ITO, IZO, or ITZO. The electrode layer 37 may includea semiconductor material that is doped with n-type or p-type impurities.However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

The insulating film 38 may be disposed to surround outer surfaces of thesemiconductor layers and electrode layers described above. For example,the insulating film 38 may be disposed to surround at least an outersurface of the light-emitting layer 36 and may extend in a direction inwhich the light-emitting element ED extends. The insulating film 38 mayperform a function of protecting such members. The insulating film 38may be formed to surround side surfaces of the members and may be formedto expose both end portions of the light-emitting element ED in thelength direction thereof.

In the drawing, the insulating film 38 is illustrated as being formed toextend in the length direction of the light-emitting element ED and tocover or overlap the side surfaces of the first semiconductor layer 31,the second semiconductor layer 32, the light-emitting layer 36, and theelectrode layer 37, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Theinsulating film 38 may cover only the outer surfaces of some of thesemiconductor layers including the light-emitting layer 36 or may coveronly a portion of the outer surface of the electrode layer 37 topartially expose the outer surface of the electrode layer 37. Theinsulating film 38 may have a rounded upper surface in a cross sectionin an area adjacent to at least one end portion of the light-emittingelement ED.

The insulating film 38 may have a thickness ranging from about 10 nm toabout 1.0 μm, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The insulatingfilm 38 may have a thickness of about 40 nm.

The insulating film 38 may include at least one selected from amongmaterials having insulating properties, for example, silicon oxide(SiO_(x)), silicon nitride (SiN_(x)), silicon oxynitride (SiO_(x)N_(y)),aluminum nitride (AlN_(x)), and aluminum oxide (AlO_(x)). In thedrawing, the insulating film 38 is illustrated as being formed as asingle-layer, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In someembodiments, the insulating film 38 may be formed in a multi-layeredstructure in which layers are stacked. Accordingly, it is possible toprevent an electrical short circuit that may occur in case that thelight-emitting layer 36 directly contact an electrode through which anelectrical signal is transmitted to the light-emitting element ED. Sincethe insulating film 38 protects the outer surface of the light-emittingelement ED including the light-emitting layer 36, it is possible toprevent a decrease in luminous efficiency.

An outer surface of the insulating film 38 may be surface-treated. Thelight-emitting element ED may be aligned by being sprayed on electrodesin a state of being dispersed in a predetermined ink. Here, in order forthe light-emitting element ED to remain dispersed without beingaggregated with other adjacent light-emitting elements ED in the ink,the surface of the insulating film 38 may be treated to be hydrophobicor hydrophilic. For example, the outer surface of the insulating film 38may be surface-treated with a material such as a stearic acid or a2,3-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid.

A length h of the light-emitting element ED may range from about 1 μm toabout 10 μm or from about 2 μm to about 6 μm and may range from about 3μm to about 5 μm. The light-emitting element ED may have a diameterranging from about 30 nm to about 700 nm and may have an aspect ratioranging from about 1.2 to about 100. However, the disclosure is notlimited thereto, and the light-emitting elements ED included in thedisplay device 10 may have different diameters according to a differencein composition of the light-emitting layer 36. The light-emittingelement ED may have a diameter of about 500 nm.

Hereinafter, other embodiments of the display device 10 will bedescribed with reference to other drawings.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view illustrating a subpixel of a displaydevice according to another embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic enlargedview of portion B of FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a schematic enlarged view of aportion in which electrodes RME1_1 and RME2_1 and contact electrodesCNE1 and CNE2 are disposed, including a light-emitting element area EDAin a first subpixel PX1 of FIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, in a display device 10_1, a first electrodeRME1_1 and a second electrode RME2_1 may have different shapes inresponse to the arrangement of the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2.According to an embodiment, the first electrode RME1_1 and the secondelectrode RME2_1 may further include a third portion RM_B electricallyconnecting a first portion RM_L and a second portion RM_U. In each ofthe electrodes RME1_1 and RME2_1, the first portion RM_L may be disposedonly in an emission area EMA, and a length of an electrode connectionpart RM_R (see, e.g., FIG. 17) measured in a second direction DR2 may besmaller than that of the first portion RM_L. The electrodes RME1_1 andRME2_1 may have the first portion RM_L having a shape which protrudesfrom the second portion RM_U disposed on a first bank BNL1 and beingspaced apart from the second portion RM_U in a first direction DR1, andlight-emitting elements ED may be disposed on the first portions RM_L.The shapes of the electrodes RME1_1 and RME2_1 of the embodiment may bedifferent from those of the embodiment of FIG. 3. Hereinafter, redundantdescriptions will be omitted, and differences will be described.

The light-emitting elements ED may be aligned on the electrodes RME1_1and RME2_1 by receiving a dielectrophoretic force by an electric fieldgenerated on the electrodes RME1_1 and RME2_1. In case that an alignmentsignal is applied to the electrodes RME1_1 and RME2_1, an electric fieldmay be generated on the electrodes RME1_1 and RME2_1. As a distancebetween the electrodes RME1_1 and RME2_1 is decreased, a strongerelectric field may be generated. The light-emitting elements ED mayreceive a great force by a strong electric field in a state of beingdispersed in an ink, and most of the light-emitting elements ED may bedisposed in an area in which the electric field is strong.

As shown in FIG. 9, the first electrode RME1_1 and the second electrodeRME2_1 may include the first portion RM_L and the second portion RM_Uwhich have a shape extending in the second direction DR2 and may furtherinclude the third portion RM_B which electrically connects the firstportion RM_L and the second portion RM_U. The first portion RM_L may bedisposed directly on a third interlayer insulating layer IL3 and may bedisposed only in the emission area EMA. The second portions RM_U may bedisposed on the first banks BNL1 to extend in the second direction DR2beyond the emission area EMA, and contact holes CT1 and CT2 may beformed in portions of the second portions RM-U overlapping a second bankBNL2.

Since the first portion RM_L has the shape protruding from the secondportion RM_U in the first direction DR1, a distance between the firstportions RM_L among distances between the first electrode RME1_1 and thesecond electrode RME2_1 according to an embodiment, may be smaller thana distance between the second portions RM_U. In case that an alignmentsignal is applied to the first electrode RME1_1 and the second electrodeRME2_1, a stronger electric field may be generated on the first portionsRM_L, and most of the light-emitting elements ED may be disposed on thefirst portions RM_L. As described above, contact portions CTD and CTS,through which the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 electrically contactthe electrodes RME1_1 and RME2_1, may be spaced apart from thelight-emitting element area EDA in the second direction DR2, and in casethat the shapes of the electrodes RME1_1 and RME2_1 are designed suchthat the light-emitting elements ED are intensively disposed at aspecific position, it is possible to readily distinguish thelight-emitting element area EDA.

The first portion RM_L and the second portion RM_U may be electricallyconnected through the third portion RM_B, and a length of the thirdportion RM_B measured in the second direction DR2 may be smaller thanthat of the first portion RM_L. The first portions RM_L may includeportions protruding from the third portions RM_B in the second directionDR2, and the contact portions CTD and CTS may be formed in theprotruding portions. An alignment signal applied from the second portionRM_U of the electrodes RME1_1 and RME2_1 may be transmitted to the firstportion RML through the third portion RM_B. In this case, an electricfield with relatively strong intensity may be generated on a portion ofthe first portion RM_L electrically connected to the third portion RM_B,and the number of the light-emitting elements ED disposed on the portionof the first portion RM_L protruding from the third portion RMB may berelatively small. In case that the light-emitting elements ED are notdisposed on the protruding portion, a space for forming the contactportions CTD and CTS may be secured. The light-emitting elements ED maybe disposed such that reference lines RL1 and RL2 traversing both endportions of the uppermost and lowermost light-emitting elements EDtraverse the third portions RM_B, and the contact portions CTD and CTSdisposed outside an area between the reference lines RL1 and RL2 may notoverlap the third portions RM_B in the first direction DR1.

The contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 may be disposed on the firstportions RM_L of the electrodes RME1_1 and RME2_1 as in the embodimentof FIG. 3. Since most of the light-emitting elements ED are disposed onthe first portions RM_L and the contact portions CTD and CTS are alsodisposed on the first portions RM_L, each of the contact electrodes CNE1and CNE2 may be disposed on the first portion RM_L to extend in thesecond direction DR2. In the embodiment, the electrodes RME1_1 andRME2_1 may be designed to have different shapes so that thelight-emitting elements ED may be intensively disposed at a specificposition, and there is an advantage at least in that it is easy toarrange the contact portions CTD and CTS at positions spaced apart fromthe light-emitting element area EDA in the second direction DR2.

In case that the contact portions CTD and CTS are spaced apart from anoptical path of light emitted from the light-emitting element ED or arespaced apart from the light-emitting element area EDA in the seconddirection DR2, the contact portions CTD and CTS may not necessarily beformed on the first portions RM_L of the electrodes RME1 and RME2. Inthe display device 10, in case that portions of the contact electrodesCNE1 and CNE2 electrically contacting the light-emitting element ED areformed to have a minimum width and in case that the contact portions CTDand CTS are formed to avoid an optical path of light emitted from thelight-emitting element ED, the positions of the contact portions CTD andCTS may be variously modified.

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view illustrating a subpixel of a displaydevice according to still another embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematicenlarged view of portion C of FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a schematiccross-sectional view taken along line Q5-Q5′ of FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is aschematic enlarged view of a portion in which electrodes RME1 and RME2and contact electrodes CNE1_2 and CNE2_2 are disposed, including alight-emitting element area EDA in a first subpixel PX1 of FIG. 10. FIG.12 illustrates a cross section traversing contact portions CTD and CTSspaced apart from light-emitting elements ED.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, according to an embodiment, a displaydevice 10_2 may have a shape in which contact portions CTD and CTS aredisposed on second portions RM_U of the electrodes RME1 and RME2 and thecontact electrodes CNE1_2 and CNE2_2 are disposed over first portionsRM_L and the second portions RM_U. The contact electrodes CNE1_2 andCNE2_2 may include a contact electrode extension part CN_E disposed onthe first portion RML and electrically contacting the light-emittingelements ED, contact electrode contact parts CN_C disposed on the secondportion RM_U and electrically contacting the electrode RME1 or RME2through the contact portion CTD or CTS, and contact electrode connectionparts CN_B electrically connecting the contact electrode extension partCN_E and the contact electrode contact part CN_C. The shapes of thecontact electrodes CNE1_2 and CNE2_2 of the embodiment may be differentfrom those of the embodiment of FIG. 3. Hereinafter, redundantdescriptions will be omitted, and the shapes of the contact electrodesCNE12 and CNE2_2 will be described in detail.

The contact portions CTD and CTS may be disposed on the second portionsRM_U of the electrodes RME1 and RME2 and may be disposed at positionsspaced apart from a light-emitting element area EDA in a seconddirection DR2. As described above, the contact portions CTD and CTS maybe disposed outside an area between reference lines RL1 and RL2traversing both end portions of the uppermost and lowermostlight-emitting elements ED among the light-emitting elements ED and maybe spaced apart from the reference lines RL1 and RL2 in the seconddirection DR2. In case that the light-emitting elements ED are randomlyarranged on the first portions RM_L of the electrodes RME1 and RME2, asufficient space for forming the contact portions CTD and CTS may not besecured. In this case, the contact portions CTD and CTS may be disposedon the second portions RM_U of the electrodes RME1 and RME2, and theshapes of the contact electrodes CNE1_2 and CNE2_2 to be described belowmay be differently designed to electrically connect the light-emittingelements ED and the electrodes RME1 and RME2.

The contact electrode extension parts CN_E of the contact electrodesCNE1_2 and CNE2_2 may be disposed on the first portions RM_L and extendin the second direction DR2. The contact electrode extension part CN_Eand the contact electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 of FIG. 3 may havesubstantially the same shape.

The contact electrode contact parts CN_C may be disposed on the secondportions RM_U of the electrodes RME1 and RME2. The contact electrodecontact parts CN_C may be disposed to be spaced apart from the contactelectrode extension parts CN_E in a first direction DR1 and may bedisposed to cover or overlap the contact portions CTD and CTS. Thecontact electrode contact parts CN_C of the contact electrodes CNE1_2and CNE2_2 may electrically contact the electrodes RME1 and RME2 throughthe contact portions CTD and CTS. The contact electrode contact partCN_C may also be disposed so as to avoid an optical path of lightemitted from the light-emitting element ED. For example, the contactelectrode contact parts CN_C may be disposed to overlap the contactportions CTD and CTS and may be disposed to be spaced apart from thereference lines RL1 and RL2, which traverse both end portions of theuppermost and lowermost light-emitting elements ED, in the seconddirection DR2.

The contact electrode connection part CN_B may be disposed toelectrically connect the contact electrode extension part CN_E and thecontact electrode contact part CN_C. The contact electrode connectionparts CN_B may be disposed at both sides of the contact electrodeextension part CN_E in the second direction DR2 and may extend in thefirst direction DR1 to be electrically connected to the contactelectrode contact part CN_C. The contact electrode connection parts CN_Bmay also avoid the optical path of light emitted from the light-emittingelement ED and may be disposed to be spaced apart from the referencelines RL1 and RL2, which traverse both end portions of the uppermost andlowermost light-emitting elements ED, in the second direction DR2.

The contact electrodes CNE1_2 and CNE2_2 may be disposed on the firstportions RML, on which the light-emitting elements ED are disposed, toextend in the second direction DR2, and may have shapes that make adetour to avoid an optical path of light emitted from the light-emittingelement ED and are disposed on the second portions RM_U of theelectrodes RME1 and RME2. In the contact electrodes CNE1_2 and CNE2_2,the contact electrode extension parts CN_E may be disposed between thereference lines RL1 and RL2 to have a minimum width, and the contactelectrode connection parts CN_B and the contact electrode contact partsCN_C may be disposed to be spaced apart from the reference lines RL1 andRL2 in the second direction DR2 so as to be disposed on the contactportions CTD and CTS. In the embodiment, since the contact portions CTDand CTS are disposed on the second portions RM_U, there is an advantagein that it is easy to secure a space for forming the contact portionsCTD and CTS. Depending on the shape of the contact portions CTD and CTS,the shapes of the contact electrodes CNE1_2 and CNE2_2 may bedifferently designed, and the contact electrodes CNE1_2 and CNE2_2 mayelectrically connect the light-emitting elements ED and the electrodesRME1 and RME2 within a range capable of improving the luminousefficiency of the light emitted from the light-emitting element ED.

With respect to the above-described embodiments, only a first electrodeRME1 and only a second electrode RME2 are illustrated as being includedin each subpixel PXn, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Thedisplay device 10 may include more electrodes RME1 and RME2 and morelight-emitting elements ED for each subpixel PXn.

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view illustrating a subpixel of a displaydevice according to yet another embodiment. FIG. 14 is a schematicenlarged view of portion D of FIG. 13. FIG. 15 is a schematiccross-sectional view taken along line Q6-Q6′ of FIG. 13. FIG. 14 is aschematic enlarged view of a portion in which electrodes RME1_3, RME2_3,RME3_3, and RME4_3 and contact electrodes CNE1_3, CNE2_3, and CNE3_3 aredisposed, including a light-emitting element area EDA in a firstsubpixel PX1 of FIG. 13. FIG. 15 illustrates a cross section traversingboth end portions of a first light-emitting element ED1 and a secondlight-emitting element ED2.

Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15, a display device 10_3 according to anembodiment may include more electrodes RME1_3, RME2_3, RME3_3, andRME4_3, more light-emitting elements ED1 and ED2, and more contactelectrodes CNE1_3, CNE2_3, and CNE3_3 for each subpixel PXn. The displaydevice 10_3 may further include a third electrode RME3_3 and a fourthelectrode RME4_3 in addition to a first electrode RME1_3 and a secondelectrode RME2_3 disposed in each subpixel PXn and may include the firstlight-emitting elements ED1 disposed between the first electrode RME1_3and the third electrode RME3_3 and the second light-emitting elementsED2 disposed between the second electrode RME2_3 and the fourthelectrode RME4_3. Each subpixel PXn may include more light-emittingelements ED1 and ED2 so that luminance per unit area may be improved.Unlike the first electrode RME1_3 and the second electrode RME2_3, thethird electrode RME3_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3 may not beconnected directly to a third conductive layer, and the firstlight-emitting element ED1 and the second light-emitting element ED2 maybe electrically connected to each other in series through a thirdcontact electrode CNE3_3. Hereinafter, differences from the embodimentof FIGS. 2 to 5 will be mainly described.

A first bank BNL1_3 may include first sub-banks BNL_A disposed overadjacent subpixels PXn and a second sub-bank BNL_B disposed between thefirst sub-banks BNL_A. The second sub-bank BNL_B extending in a seconddirection DR2 may be disposed at a central portion of an emission areaEMA, and the first sub-banks BNL_A may be disposed at both sides of thesecond sub-bank BNL_B in a first direction DR1. The first bank BNL1_3 ofthe embodiment may be different from the first bank BNL1 of FIG. 3 atleast in that the first bank BNL1_3 includes the first sub-bank BNL_Adisposed in substantially the same pattern as the first bank BNL1 andthe second sub-bank BNL_B disposed between the first sub-banks BNL_Aspaced apart from each other in the first direction DR1.

The first electrode RME1_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3 may bedisposed on different first sub-banks BNL_A and extend in the seconddirection DR2. Based on a center of the emission area EMA, the firstelectrode RME1_3 may be disposed on the first sub-bank BNL_A at a leftside, and the fourth electrode RME4_3 may be disposed on the firstsub-bank BNL_A at a right side. The first electrode RME1_3 and thefourth electrode RME4_3 may have a partially bent shape. The firstelectrode RME1_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3 may include anelectrode expansion part RM_S that extends in the second direction DR2and has a width greater than that of other parts thereof, electrode bentparts RM_D that extend in directions inclined from the first directionDR1 and the second direction DR2, and electrode extension parts RM_Ethat electrically connect the electrode bent parts RM_D and theelectrode expansion part RM_S. The first electrode RME1_3 may have anoverall shape extending in the second direction DR2 and may have a shapethat has a partially greater width or is bent in the direction inclinedwith respect to the second direction DR2. The fourth electrode RME4_3may have a symmetrical structure with respect to the first electrodeRME1_3, excluding an electrode contact part RM_C, based on the center ofthe emission area EMA, and the first electrode RME1_3 and the fourthelectrode RME4 3 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other inthe first direction DR1. The second electrode RME2_3 and the thirdelectrode RME3 _3 may be disposed between the first electrode RME1_3 andthe fourth electrode RME4_3.

The electrode expansion part RM_S of the first electrode RME1_3 may havethe width greater than that of other parts thereof. The electrodeexpansion parts RM_S may be disposed on the first sub-banks BNL_A in theemission area EMA of the subpixel PXn to extend in the second directionDR2 and may be spaced apart from the second electrode RME2_3 or thethird electrode RME3_3. The first electrode RME1_3 may include theelectrode expansion part RM_S to be disposed closer to the thirdelectrode RME3_3 than to other parts, and the fourth electrode RME4_3may include the electrode expansion part RM_S to be disposed closer tothe second electrode RME2_3 than to other parts. The light-emittingelements ED may be disposed on the electrode expansion parts RM_S of thefirst electrode RME1_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3 and on the thirdelectrode RME3_3 or the second electrode RME2_3.

The electrode extension parts RM_E may be electrically connected to bothsides of each of the electrode expansion parts RM_S in the seconddirection DR2. The electrode extension parts RM_E may be electricallyconnected to the electrode expansion part RM_S and may be disposed overthe emission area EMA of each subpixel PXn and a second bank BNL2. Theelectrode extension part RM_E may have a width smaller than that of theelectrode expansion part RM_S. A side of each of the electrode extensionparts RM_E extending in the second direction DR2 may be electricallyconnected to and collinear with a side of the electrode expansion partRM_S extending in the second direction DR2. For example, among bothsides of the electrode expansion part RM_S and the electrode extensionpart RM_E, sides thereof positioned outward of on the center of theemission area EMA may extend to be electrically connect to each other.

The electrode contact part RM_C having a relatively wide width may beformed in the electrode extension part RM_E disposed at an upper side ofthe emission area EMA. The electrode contact part RM_C may overlap thesecond bank BNL2, and thus a first contact hole CT1 may be formedtherein. However, the electrode contact part RM_C may be formed only inthe first electrode RME1_3 and may not be formed in the fourth electrodeRME4_3. The fourth electrode RME4_3 may not be electrically connecteddirectly to the third conductive layer, and an electrical signal may betransmitted through the third contact electrode CNE3_3 to be describedbelow.

The electrode bent parts RM_D may be electrically connected to theelectrode extension parts RM_E. The electrode bent part RM_D may beelectrically connected to the electrode extension part RM_E at the upperside of the emission area EMA and disposed over the second bank BNL2 anda cutout area CBA, or may be disposed at a lower side of the emissionarea EMA and disposed at a boundary with an adjacent subpixel PXn in thesecond direction DR2. The electrode bent parts RM_D may be bent in adirection inclined from the second direction DR2, for example, adirection toward a center of the subpixel PXn.

The second electrode RME2_3 and the third electrode RME3_3 may have ashape similar to that of the embodiment of FIG. 3 and may be disposedbetween the first electrode RME1_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3. Thesecond electrode RME2_3 and the third electrode RME3_3 may be disposedat both sides of the second sub-bank BNL_B in the first direction DR1and may be spaced apart from each other. The second electrode RME2_3 maybe spaced apart from the fourth electrode RME4_3 in the first directionDR1 and disposed at a right side of the second sub-bank BNL_B, and thethird electrode RME3_3 may be spaced apart from the first electrodeRME1_3 in the first direction DR1 and disposed at a left side of thesecond sub-bank BNL_B. An electrode contact part RM_C may be formed in aportion of the second electrode RME2_3 overlapping the second bank BNL2.The electrode contact part RM_C may be electrically connected to asecond voltage line VL2 through a second contact hole CT2. In contrast,the third electrode RME3_3 may not be electrically connected directly tothe third conductive layer, and similar to the fourth electrode RME4_3,an electrical signal may be transmitted through the third contactelectrode CNE3_3.

Although not shown in the drawing, each of the electrodes RME1_3,RME2_3, RME3_3, and RME4_3 may include a first portion RM_L (see FIG. 5)and a second portion RM_U (see FIG. 5) as in the embodiment of FIG. 3.In the first electrode RME1_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3, a portionof the electrode expansion part RM_S thereof may be the first portionRM_L, and other parts thereof may be the second portion RM_U. Each ofthe second portions RM_U of the first electrode RME1_3 and the fourthelectrode RME4_3 may be disposed on the first sub-bank BNL_A. The secondelectrode RME2_3 and the third electrode RME3_3 may include the secondportions RM_U disposed on the second sub-banks BNL_B and the firstportions RM_L disposed to be spaced apart from and may face the firstelectrode RME1_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3.

The first light-emitting elements ED1 may be disposed on the firstelectrode RME1_3 and the third electrode RME3_3, and the secondlight-emitting elements ED2 may be disposed on the second electrodeRME2_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3. The light-emitting elements ED1and ED2 may have orientation directions that are directions in whichfirst end portions thereof, at which a first semiconductor layer 31 isdisposed, face, and since the subpixel PXn of the display device 10_3includes more electrodes, the direction in which the first end portionof the first light-emitting element ED1 faces may be opposite to thedirection in which the first end portion of the second light-emittingelement ED2 faces. For example, the first end portion of the firstlight-emitting element ED1 may be disposed on the third electrodeRME3_3, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion maybe disposed on the first electrode RME1_3. Therefore, the firstlight-emitting elements ED1 may be disposed such that the first endportion thereof faces a side of the first direction DR1. In contrast,the first end portion of the second light-emitting element ED2 may bedisposed on the second electrode RME2_3, and a second end portionopposite to the first end portion may be disposed on the fourthelectrode RME4_3. Therefore, the second light-emitting element ED2 maybe disposed such that the first end portion thereof faces the other sideof the first direction DR1. The first light-emitting element ED1 and thesecond light-emitting element ED2, of which the orientation directionsare opposite to each other, may be electrically connected to each otherin series through the third contact electrode CNE3_3 to be describedbelow.

A first contact electrode CNE1_3 may be disposed on the first electrodeRME1_3 and electrically contact the second end portion that is an endportion of the first light-emitting element ED1. A second contactelectrode CNE2_3 may be disposed on the second electrode RME2_3 andelectrically contact the first end portion that is an end portion of thesecond light-emitting element ED2. The first contact electrode CNE1_3and the second contact electrode CNE2 _3 may electrically contact thefirst electrode RME1_3 and the second electrode RME2_3, respectively.Power voltages for driving the light-emitting elements ED1 and ED2 maybe transmitted to the first contact electrode CNE1_3 and the secondcontact electrode CNE2_3 through a first transistor T1 and the secondvoltage line VL2.

The third contact electrode CNE3_3 may be disposed on the thirdelectrode RME3_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3. The third contactelectrode CNE3_3 may include contact electrode extension parts thatextend in the second direction DR2 and are disposed on the thirdelectrode RME3_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3 and contact electrodeconnection parts that electrically connect the contact electrodeextension parts. The contact electrode extension parts of the thirdcontact electrode CNE3_3 may be disposed on the third electrode RME3_3and the fourth electrode RME4_3 to extend in the second direction DR2,and the contact electrode connection parts of the third contactelectrode CNE3_3 may extend in the first direction DR1 to electricallyconnect the electrode extension parts. The third contact electrodeCNE3_3 may be disposed in a shape surrounding the second contactelectrode CNE2_3 in a plan view.

The contact electrode extension parts of the third contact electrodeCNE3_3 may electrically contact the third electrode RME3_3 or the fourthelectrode RME4_3 and end portions of the light-emitting elements ED1 andED2. For example, the contact electrode extension part of the thirdcontact electrode CNE3_3 disposed on the third electrode RME3_3 mayelectrically contact the third electrode RME3_3 and the first endportion of the first light-emitting element ED1, and the contactelectrode extension part of the third contact electrode CNE3_3 disposedon the fourth electrode RME4_3 may electrically contact the fourthelectrode RME4_3 and the second end portion of the second light-emittingelement ED2.

The first contact electrode CNE1_3 and the second contact electrodeCNE2_3 may be disposed on the first portions RM_L of the first electrodeRME1_3 and the second electrode RME2_3, respectively, and a firstcontact portion CTD and a second contact portion CTS may be disposed onthe first portions RM_L, respectively. The first contact electrodeCNE1_3 and the second contact electrode CNE2_3 may be disposed on thefirst portions RM_L to extend in the second direction DR2, and the firstcontact portion CTD and the second contact portion CTS may be disposedto be spaced apart from the light-emitting element area EDA in thesecond direction DR2.

The contact electrode extension parts of the third contact electrodeCNE3_3 may be disposed on the first portions RM_L of the third electrodeRME3_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3 to extend in the second directionDR2 and may electrically contact end portions of the light-emittingelements ED1 and ED2. The third contact electrode CNE3_3 mayelectrically contact the first portions RM_L through third contactportions CTF disposed on the first portions RM_L of the third electrodeRME3_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3. The third contact portions CTFmay be spaced apart from the light-emitting element area EDA in thesecond direction DR2 and disposed on the first portions RM_L. However,the third contact electrode CNE3_3 may further include the contactelectrode connection parts electrically connecting the contact electrodeextension parts, and the contact electrode connection part may bedisposed on the second portion RM_U of the third electrode RME3_3.Accordingly, the third contact portion CTF may be disposed on the secondportion RM_U of the third electrode RME3_3. Even in case that the numberof electrodes RME1_3, RME2_3, RME3_3, and RME4_3 disposed for eachsubpixel PXn of the display device 10_3 is increased, the arrangement ofthe contact electrodes CNE1_3, CNE2_3, and CNE3_3 and the arrangement ofthe contact portions CTD, CTS, and CTF may be designed as shown in thedrawing, thereby improving the luminous efficiency of light emitted fromthe light-emitting element ED.

In an embodiment, in the display device 10_3, the third contactelectrode CNE3_3 may be disposed on a different layer from the firstcontact electrode CNE1_3 and the second contact electrode CNE2_3 in across-sectional view. For example, the third contact electrode CNE3_3may be disposed on a second insulating layer PAS2, and the first contactelectrode CNE1_3 and the second contact electrode CNE2_3 may be disposedon a third insulating layer PAS3. However, the disclosure is not limitedthereto, and the arrangement order of the contact electrodes CNE1_3,CNE2_3, and CNE3_3 may vary based on the third insulating layer PAS3.

Power voltages may be applied to the first light-emitting element ED1and the second light-emitting element ED2 through the first contactelectrode CNE1_3 and the second contact electrode CNE2_3, respectively.The power voltages may be applied through the light-emitting elementsED1 and ED2 and may be applied between the first light-emitting elementED1 and the second light-emitting element ED2 through the third contactelectrode CNE3_3. The third contact electrode CNE3_3 may form aconnection path between the first light-emitting element ED1 and thesecond light-emitting element ED2, and the first light-emitting elementED1 and the second light-emitting element ED2 may be electricallyconnected in series through the third contact electrode CNE3_3. Sincethe third contact electrode CNE3_3 electrically contacts the thirdelectrode RME3_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3, even in case that thethird electrode RME3_3 and the fourth electrode RME4_3 are not connecteddirectly to a circuit layer thereunder, the third electrode RME3_3 andthe fourth electrode RME4_3 do not remain in a floating state and may beelectrically connected to the circuit layer in case that the powervoltage is applied thereto.

In the display device 10, some electrodes may be separated in eachsubpixel PXn to electrically connect more light-emitting elements ED inseries. Accordingly, each subpixel PXn may further include separatedelectrodes and separated contact electrodes to have a novel pixelelectrode structure.

FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view illustrating a pixel of a displaydevice according to yet another embodiment. FIG. 17 is a schematic planview illustrating a first subpixel of FIG. 16. FIG. 18 is a schematiccross-sectional view taken along line Q7-Q7′ of FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is aschematic cross-sectional view taken along line Q8-Q8′ of FIG. 17. FIG.20 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line Q9-Q9′ of FIG.17. FIG. 18 illustrates a cross section traversing both end portions ofa first light-emitting element ED1 and a second light-emitting elementED2 of FIG. 17. FIG. 19 illustrates a cross section traversing a firstcontact portion CTD, a second contact portion CTS, and a third contactportion CTF, and FIG. 20 illustrates a cross section traversing a firstelectrode RME1_4 and a fourth electrode RME4_4 spaced apart from eachother in a second direction DR2.

Referring to FIGS. 16 to 20, a display device 10_4 may includeelectrodes RME1_4, RME2_4, RME3_4, RME4_4, RME5_4, RME6_4, RME7_4, andRME8_4 which are disposed for each subpixel PXn and are spaced apartfrom each other in a first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2.Light-emitting elements ED1, ED2, ED3, and ED4 (collectively referred toas light-emitting elements ED) may be disposed on the electrodes spacedapart from each other in the first direction DR1, and contact electrodesCNE1_4, CNE2_4, CNE3_4, CNE4_4, and CNE5_4 may be disposed on theelectrodes. The embodiment is the display device 10_4 having a novelelectrode structure, and the electrodes and contact electrodes as wellas the structure and arrangement of a first bank BNL1_4 are differentfrom those of the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 13. However, the embodimentis the same as the above-described embodiments at least in that thecontact portions CTD, CTS, and CTF, through which the contact electrodesand the electrodes electrically contact each other, avoid an opticalpath and are spaced apart from a light-emitting element areas EDA in thesecond direction DR2. Hereinafter, the novel structures of theelectrodes and contact electrodes will be described in detail.

The first bank BNL1_4 may include first sub-banks BNL_A and a secondsub-bank BNL_B. The first sub-banks BNL_A may have a shape extending inthe second direction DR2 and may be disposed in an emission area EMA.Unlike other embodiments, the first sub-bank BNL_A may be disposed so asnot to cross a boundary with another adjacent subpixel PXn in the firstdirection DR1 and may not overlap a second bank BNL2 in a thicknessdirection thereof. Four first sub-banks BNL_A may be disposed in eachsubpixel PXn. The first sub-banks BNL_A may be disposed to be spacedapart from each other in the first direction DR1 and the seconddirection DR2 and may be disposed in four areas that are divided basedon lines crossing a center of the emission area EMA in the firstdirection DR1 and the second direction DR2.

The second sub-bank BNL_B may extend in the second direction DR2 and maybe disposed beyond the emission area EMA. The second sub-bank BNL_B mayalso be disposed in a cutout area CBA and may be disposed beyond aboundary with an adjacent subpixel PXn in the second direction DR2.However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the second sub-bankBNL_B may be disposed only in the corresponding subpixel PXn so as tonot be disposed in the cutout area CBA. The second sub-bank BNL_B may bedisposed at a central portion of the emission area EMA and may bedisposed between the first sub-banks BNL_A spaced apart from each otherin the first direction DR1. A portion of the second sub-bank BNL_Bspaced apart from the first sub-bank BNL_A in the first direction DR1may have a wider width. Electrodes may be disposed on the portion of thesecond sub-bank BNL_B having a wide width. The first sub-banks BNL_A andthe second sub-bank BNL_B may be spaced apart from and face each other,and the light-emitting elements ED may be disposed therebetween.

The electrodes may include a first electrode RME1_4 and a secondelectrode RME2_4 as a pair of first type electrodes and third to eighthelectrodes RME3_4, RME4_4, RME5_4, RME6_4, RME7_4, and RME8_4 as sixsecond type electrodes. The first type electrode may be an electrodethat is electrically connected directly to a third conductive layerthereunder through contact holes CT1 and CT2, and the second typeelectrode may be an electrode that is not electrically connecteddirectly to the third conductive layer. The first type electrode may beelectrically connected to a first conductive pattern CDP or a secondvoltage line VL2 through an electrode contact part RM_C formed in aportion of the first type electrode overlapping the second bank BNL2,but the second type electrode may be an electrode in which the electrodecontact part RM_C is not formed. The second type electrode mayelectrically contact a second type contact electrode described below andthus may receive an electrical signal applied to the first typeelectrode to not remain in a floating state.

Similarly, the contact electrodes may include a first contact electrodeCNE1_4 and a second contact electrode CNE2_4 as a pair of first typecontact electrodes and a third contact electrode CNE3_4, a fourthcontact electrode CNE4_4, and a fifth contact electrode CNE5_4 as threesecond type contact electrodes. The first type contact electrode may bedisposed on the first type electrode and electrically contact the firsttype electrode through the first contact portion CTD or the secondcontact portion CTS, and the second type contact electrode may bedisposed on the second type electrode and electrically contact thesecond type electrode through the third contact portion CTF. Thelight-emitting elements ED may include the first light-emitting elementED1 and the second light-emitting element ED2 in which an end portionthereof is disposed on the first type electrode and another end portionthereof is disposed on the second type electrode, and may include athird light-emitting element ED3 and a fourth light-emitting element ED4in which both end portions thereof are disposed on the second typeelectrodes.

Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 13, the first electrode RME1_4, thefourth electrode RME4_4, the sixth electrode RME6_4, and the eighthelectrode RME8_4 may have a shape including electrode extension partsRM_E1 and RM_E2 and an electrode bent part RM_D. However, unlike theembodiment of FIG. 13, the first electrode RME1_4, the fourth electrodeRME4_4, the sixth electrode RME6_4, and the eighth electrode RME8_4 mayhave a shape that does not include an electrode expansion part RM_S,includes the electrode extension parts RM_E1 and RM_E2 having a uniformwidth, and includes an electrode connection part RM_R electricallyconnecting the electrode extension parts RM_E1 and RM_E2. For example,the first electrode RME1_4 may include a first electrode extension partRM_E1, a second electrode extension part RM_E2, and the electrodeconnection part RM_R electrically connecting the first electrodeextension part RM_E1 and the second electrode extension part RM_E2. Thefirst electrode extension part RM_E1 may be spaced apart from and faceanother electrode in the first direction DR1, and the light-emittingelement ED may be disposed thereon. The second electrode extension partRM_E2 may extend in the second direction DR2 in a direction not alignedwith the first electrode extension part RM_E1 and may be disposed overthe emission area EMA and the second bank BNL2. The fourth electrodeRME4_4 may have a symmetrical structure with respect to the firstelectrode RME1_4 based on an imaginary line intersecting a center of theemission area EMA in the first direction DR1, and the eighth electrodeRME8_4 and the sixth electrode RME6_4 may respectively have symmetricalstructures with respect to the first electrode RME1_4 and the fourthelectrode RME4_4 based on an imaginary line crossing a center of theemission area EMA in the second direction DR2. However, the electrodecontact part RM_C may not be formed in the fourth electrode RME4_4, thesixth electrode RME6_4, and the eighth electrode RME8_4. For example,the fourth electrode RME4_4, the sixth electrode RME6_4, and the eighthelectrode RME8_4 may have the above-described symmetrical structures,excluding the electrode contact part RM_C.

The second electrode RME2_4, the third electrode RME3_4, the fifthelectrode RME5_4, and the seventh electrode RME7_4 may have a shapeextending in a direction. The first electrode RME1_4, the fourthelectrode RME4_4, the sixth electrode RME6_4, and the eighth electrodeRME8_4 may be disposed on the first sub-banks BNL_A, and the secondelectrode RME2_4, the third electrode RME3_4, the fifth electrodeRME5_4, and the seventh electrode RME7_4 may be disposed on the secondsub-bank BNL_B. As described above, each of the electrodes may include afirst portion RM_L disposed directly on a third interlayer insulatinglayer IL3 and a second portion RM_U disposed on the first bank BNL1_4.Hereinafter, descriptions of the structure of each electrode will beomitted, and a relative arrangement will be described.

The first electrode RME1_4 may be disposed at an upper left side basedon the center of the emission area EMA. The first electrode RME1_4 maybe disposed on the first sub-bank BNL_A disposed at the upper left sideamong the first sub-banks BNL_A. The second electrode RME2_4 may bedisposed at an upper side of the emission area EMA. The second electrodeRME2_4 may be disposed on one side of the second sub-bank BNL_B in thefirst direction DR1 and may be disposed to overlap a portion of thesecond sub-bank BNL_B having a wide width.

The third electrode RME3_4 may be disposed between the first electrodeRME1_4 and the second electrode RME2_4 and may be disposed on anotherside of the second sub-bank BNL_B in the first direction DR1. Forexample, the third electrode RME3_4 may be disposed to overlap theportion of the second sub-bank BNL_B having a wide width. The thirdelectrode RME3 4 may be spaced apart from each of the first electrodeextension part RM_E1 of the first electrode RME1_4 and the secondelectrode RME2_4, and the first light-emitting element ED1 may bedisposed between the third electrode RME3_4 and the first electrodeRME1_4 spaced apart from each other. The fourth electrode RME4_4 mayhave a symmetrical structure with respect to the first electrode RME1_4,excluding the electrode contact part RM_C in the second direction DR2.The fourth electrode RME4_4 may be disposed on the first sub-bank BNL_Adisposed at a lower left side of the emission area EMA among the firstsub-banks BNL_A.

The fifth electrode RME5_4 may be spaced apart from the third electrodeRME3_4 in the second direction DR2 and may be spaced apart from thefourth electrode RME4_4 in the first direction DR1. The fifth electrodeRME5_4 may be disposed on a lower portion of the portion of the secondsub-bank BNL_B having a wide width. The fifth electrode RME5_4 may bedisposed on another side of the second sub-bank BNL_B in the firstdirection DR1. The third light-emitting element ED3 may be disposed inan area between the fourth electrode RME4_4 and the fifth electrodeRME5_4. The sixth electrode RME6_4 has a symmetrical structure withrespect to the fourth electrode RME4_4 in the first direction DR1 andmay be disposed on the first sub-bank BNL_A disposed at a lower rightside based on the center of the emission area EMA.

The seventh electrode RME7_4 may be disposed between the fifth electrodeRME5_4 and the sixth electrode RME6_4 and may be disposed on a side ofthe second sub-bank BNL_B in the first direction DR1, in which the fifthelectrode RME5_4 is disposed. For example, the seventh electrode RME7_4may be disposed to overlap the portion of the second sub-bank BNL_Bhaving a wide width. The seventh electrode RME7_4 may be spaced apartfrom each of the first electrode extension part RM_E1 of the sixthelectrode RME6_4 and the fifth electrode RME5_4, and the fourthlight-emitting element ED4 may be disposed between the seventh electrodeRME7_4 and the sixth electrode RME6_4 spaced apart from each other. Theeighth electrode RME8_4 may have a symmetrical structure with respect tothe sixth electrode RME6_4 in the second direction DR2. The eighthelectrode RME8_4 may be disposed on the first sub-bank BNL_A disposed atan upper right side of the emission area EMA among the first sub-banksBNL_A. The eighth electrode RME8_4 may be disposed to be spaced apartfrom the second electrode RME2_4, and the second light-emitting elementED2 may be disposed thereon.

The electrodes disposed on the same second sub-bank BNL_B may bedisposed on the second sub-bank BNL_B to be spaced apart from each otherin the first direction DR1, and the light-emitting element ED may not bedisposed in an area therebetween. In contrast, the light-emittingelements ED may be disposed in an area between the electrodes disposedon the first sub-bank BNL_A and the second sub-bank BNL_B. Since theelectrodes disposed on the first sub-banks BNL_A include the firstelectrode extension part RM_E1, a distance between the electrodesdisposed on the first sub-banks BNL_A and the electrode disposed on thesecond sub-bank BNL_B may vary according to positions thereof.Therefore, most of the light-emitting elements ED may be disposed in anarea between the first sub-bank BNL_A and the second sub-bank BNL_B.

According to an embodiment, based on the center of the emission areaEMA, the first electrode RME1_4, the third electrode RME3_4, the secondelectrode RME2_4, and the eighth electrode RME8_4 disposed at the upperside may be spaced apart from the fourth electrode RME4_4, the fifthelectrode RME5_4, the seventh electrode RME7_4, and the sixth electrodeRME6_4 disposed at the lower side in the second direction DR2,respectively. An area therebetween in the second direction DR2 may be anarea in which electrode lines are separated during a manufacturingprocess of the display device 10_4. After the light-emitting elements EDare disposed on the electrode lines and a second insulating layer PAS2is formed, the electrodes lines may be separated to form electrodesspaced apart from each other in the second direction DR2. Therefore, asshown in FIG. 20, a first insulating layer PAS1 and the secondinsulating layer PAS2 may be removed in an area in which the firstelectrode RME1_4 and the fourth electrode RME4_4 are separated, and athird insulating layer PAS3 may be disposed directly on the thirdinterlayer insulating layer IL3. This will be described below withreference to other drawings.

The first contact electrode CNE1_4 and the second contact electrodeCNE2_4, which are the first type contact electrodes, may be disposed onthe first electrode RME1_4 and the second electrode RME2_4,respectively. The first contact electrode CNE1_4 may be disposed on thefirst electrode extension part RM_E 1 of the first electrode RME1_4 andelectrically contact a first end portion of the first light-emittingelement ED1 and the first electrode RME1_4. The second contact electrodeCNE2_4 may be disposed on the second electrode RME2_4 and electricallycontact a second end portion of the second light-emitting element ED2and the second electrode RME2_4.

The second type contact electrodes may further include the fourthcontact electrode CNE4_4 and the fifth contact electrode CNE5_4 inaddition to the third contact electrode CNE3_4. The second type contactelectrode may include contact electrode extension parts, a contactelectrode connection part, and contact electrode contact parts and maybe disposed on the second type electrodes.

For example, in the third contact electrode CNE3_4, the contactelectrode extension parts may be disposed on the third electrode RME3_4and the fourth electrode RME4_4 and may be electrically connectedthrough the contact electrode connection part. The contact electrodeconnection part of the third contact electrode CNE3_4 may be disposed inan area between the first electrode RME1_4 and the fourth electrodeRME4_4 in the second direction DR2. The third contact electrode CNE3_4may electrically contact a second end portion of the firstlight-emitting element ED1 and a first end portion of the thirdlight-emitting element ED3 and may electrically contact the thirdelectrode RME3_4 and the fourth electrode RME4_4.

In the fourth contact electrode CNE4_4, the contact electrode extensionparts may be disposed on the fifth electrode RME5_4 and the sixthelectrode RME6_4 and may be electrically connected through the contactelectrode connection part. The contact electrode connection part of thefourth contact electrode CNE4_4 may be disposed in an area between thecontact electrode extension parts and the second bank BNL2. The fourthcontact electrode CNE4_4 may electrically contact a second end portionof the third light-emitting element ED3 and a first end portion of thefourth light-emitting element ED4 and may electrically contact the fifthelectrode RME5_4 and the sixth electrode RME6_4. In the fifth contactelectrode CNE5_4, the contact electrode extension parts may be disposedon the seventh electrode RME7_4 and the eighth electrode RME8_4 and maybe electrically connected through the contact electrode connection part.The contact electrode connection part of the fifth contact electrodeCNE5_4 may be disposed in an area between the eighth electrode RME8_4and the sixth electrode RME6_4 in the second direction DR2. The fifthcontact electrode CNE5_4 may electrically contact a second end portionof the fourth light-emitting element ED4 and a first end portion of thesecond light-emitting element ED2 and may electrically contact theseventh electrode RME7_4 and the eighth electrode RME8_4.

Unlike the third contact electrode CNE3_4 and the fifth contactelectrode CNE5_4, the contact electrode connection part of the fourthcontact electrode CNE4_4 may be disposed between the seventh electrodeRME7_4 and the second bank BNL2. In an embodiment, the contact electrodeconnection part of the fourth contact electrode CNE4_4 may be disposedto be spaced apart from one side of the seventh electrode RME7_4 in thesecond direction DR2, and the contact electrode connection part of thefifth contact electrode CNE5_4 may be disposed to be spaced apart fromanother side of the seventh electrode RME7_4 in the second directionDR2.

In an embodiment, in a cross section of the display device 10_4, thefirst contact electrode CNE1_4, the second contact electrode CNE2_4, andthe fourth contact electrode CNE4_4 may be disposed on a different layerfrom the third contact electrode CNE3_4 and the fifth contact electrodeCNE5_4. For example, the third contact electrode CNE3_4 and the fifthcontact electrode CNE5_4 may be disposed on the second insulating layerPAS2, and the first contact electrode CNE1_4, the second contactelectrode CNE2_4, and the fourth contact electrode CNE4_4 may bedisposed on the third insulating layer PAS3. However, the disclosure isnot limited thereto, and the arrangement order of the contact electrodesCNE1_4, CNE2_4, CNE3_4, CNE4_4, and CNE5_4 may vary based on the thirdinsulating layer PAS3.

In the embodiment, the contact electrodes CNE1_4, CNE2_4, CNE3_4,CNE4_4, and CNE5_4 may have a relatively great width and may be disposedon inclined side surfaces of the first bank BNL1_4. Since each subpixelPXn includes more electrodes, a width of the first portion RM_L of theelectrodes may be decreased, and the contact electrodes CNE1_4, CNE2_4,CNE3_4, CNE4_4, and CNE5_4 may be partially disposed on the inclinedside surfaces of the first bank BNL1_4. However, the contact portionsCTD, CTS, and CTF may be disposed to be spaced apart at least from thelight-emitting element area EDA in the second direction DR2.

For example, the first contact portion CTD may be disposed on theelectrode connection part RM_R of the first electrode RME1_4. The firstcontact portion CTD may be disposed to be spaced apart from thelight-emitting element area EDA in an area thereof not overlapping withthe first bank BNL1_4. A contact electrode extension part of the firstcontact electrode CNE1_4 may be disposed on the first electrodeextension part RM_E1 of the first electrode RME1_4. The contactelectrode connection part may bypass the light-emitting element area EDAand may be electrically connected to a contact electrode contact part ofthe first contact electrode CNE1_4 disposed on the electrode connectionpart RM_R. The first contact electrode CNE1_4 may electrically contactthe first electrode RME1_4 through the contact electrode contact partthereof disposed on the electrode connection part RM_R.

Similarly, the third contact portions CTF may be disposed on theelectrode connection parts RM_R of the fourth electrode RME4_4, thesixth electrode RME6_4, and the eighth electrode RME8_4, and the contactelectrode connection parts of the third contact electrode CNE3_4, thefourth contact electrode CNE4_4, and the fifth contact electrode CNE5_4may bypass the light-emitting element area EDA and may be electricallyconnected to the contact electrode contact parts thereof disposed on theelectrode connection parts RM_R. The third contact electrode CNE3_4, thefourth contact electrode CNE4_4, and the fifth contact electrode CNE5_4may electrically contact the fourth electrode RME4_4, the sixthelectrode RME6_4, and the eighth electrode RME8_4 through the contactelectrode contact parts thereof disposed on the electrode connectionparts RM_R.

The second electrode RME2_4 may include an electrode protrusion RM_Pthat has a predetermined width and is formed at a side of a portionthereof extending in the second direction DR2. Since the electrodeprotrusion RM_P is formed at a portion not overlapping the first bankBNL1_4, the electrode protrusion RM_P may be disposed to be spaced apartfrom the light-emitting element area EDA. Similar to the first contactelectrode CNE1_4, in the second contact electrode CNE2_4, a contactelectrode extension part may be disposed on the second electrode RME2_4,and a contact electrode contact part may be spaced apart from thelight-emitting element area EDA and disposed on the electrode protrusionRM_P. The second contact electrode CNE2_4 may electrically contact thesecond electrode RME2_4 through the contact electrode contact partthereof disposed on the electrode protrusion RM_P.

Similarly, the third electrode RME3_4, the fifth electrode RME5_4, andthe seventh electrode RME7_4 may also include electrode protrusionsRM_P, and the third contact portions CTF may be disposed on theelectrode protrusions RM_P. The contact electrode contact parts of thethird contact electrode CNE3_4, the fourth contact electrode CNE4_4, andthe fifth contact electrode CNE5_4 may be spaced apart from thelight-emitting element area EDA and may be disposed on the electrodeprotrusions RM_P. The third contact electrode CNE3_4, the fourth contactelectrode CNE4_4, and the fifth contact electrode CNE5_4 mayelectrically contact the third electrode RME3_4, the fifth electrodeRME5_4, and the seventh electrode RME7_4 through the contact electrodecontact parts thereof disposed on the electrode protrusions RM_P,respectively.

The electrode protrusions RM_P and the electrode connection parts RM_Rof the electrodes may be disposed at an upper side or a lower side ofthe light-emitting element area EDA in which the light-emitting elementsED are disposed, and thus may be disposed at an outer periphery of theemission area EMA. In contrast, the electrode protrusion RM_P of theseventh electrode RME7_4 may be disposed between the secondlight-emitting element ED2 and the fourth light-emitting element ED4 anddisposed between the light-emitting element areas EDA. Nevertheless,since the third contact portion CTF disposed on the seventh electrodeRME7_4 does not overlap an optical path of light emitted from thelight-emitting element ED, it is possible to prevent the light emittedfrom the light-emitting element ED from being lost without beingemitted.

The first end portion of the first light-emitting element ED1 and thesecond end portion of the second light-emitting element ED2 may beelectrically connected to the first type electrodes through the firsttype contact electrodes, and an electrical signal applied from the thirdconductive layer may be transmitted thereto. The electrical signal mayflow through the second type contact electrodes, the thirdlight-emitting element ED3, and the fourth light-emitting element ED4,and the first to fourth light-emitting elements ED1, ED2, ED3, and ED4may be electrically connected in series. Since the embodiment includesthe electrodes spaced apart and separated from each other in the firstdirection DR1 and the second direction DR2, and the contact electrodesdisposed on the electrodes, more light-emitting elements ED may bedisposed and electrically connected to each other in series. Similar tothe other embodiments, since the contact portions CTD, CTS, and CTFthrough which the contact electrode and the electrodes electricallycontact each other are disposed to avoid an optical path of lightemitted from the light-emitting element ED, in each subpixel PXn, anamount of light emitted per unit area may be increased, and luminousefficiency thereof may be further improved.

The display device 10_4 may be manufactured by a process of arrangingthe light-emitting elements ED using electrode lines extending in thesecond direction DR2 and separating the electrode lines to formelectrodes.

FIGS. 21 to 25 are schematic views illustrating some operations of amanufacturing process of the display device of FIG. 16.

First, referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, the first banks BNL1_4, electrodelines RM1 and RM2, and the second bank BNL2 may be formed. The electrodelines RM1 and RM2 may extend beyond a boundary of the subpixel PXn inthe second direction DR2. According to an embodiment, first electrodelines RM1 may be disposed in each subpixel PXn, and second electrodelines RM2 may be disposed therebetween. For example, two first electrodelines RM1 spaced apart from each other in the first direction DR1 may bedisposed in each sub-pixel PXn, and two second electrode lines RM2 maybe disposed therebetween. Portions of the first electrode lines RM1 maybe disposed on the first sub-banks BNL_A, and the second electrode linesRM2 may be disposed at both sides of the second sub-bank BNL_B in thefirst direction DR1.

The second electrode lines RM2 may be electrically connected directly toeach other in the emission area EMA. In case that the second electrodelines RM2 are separated from each other, a voltage difference maypartially occur even though the same alignment signal is appliedthereto. Because of the voltage difference, some of the light-emittingelements ED may be disposed between the second electrode lines RM2. Toprevent this, the second electrode lines RM2 may be electricallyconnected to each other in the emission area EMA, and an electric fieldmay be generated between the first electrode line RM1 and the secondelectrode line RM2.

The first electrode line RM1 may have a shape including an electrodeextension part, an electrode bent part, and an electrode connectionpart, and the second electrode line RM2 may have a shape extending inthe second direction DR2. A distance between the first electrode lineRM1 and the second electrode line RM2 adjacent to each other, which ismeasured at portions thereof disposed on the first sub-bank BNL_A andthe second-sub bank BNL_B, may be smaller than a distance between thefirst electrode line RM1 and the second electrode line RM2 measured atportions thereof at which the sub-banks BNL_B are spaced apart from eachother in the second direction DR2. In case that an electric field isgenerated, a strong electric field may be generated at a portion atwhich the distance between the electrode lines RM1 and RM2 is small, andmost of the light-emitting elements ED may be disposed on thecorresponding portion.

Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, an alignment signal may be applied to theelectrode lines RM1 and RM2 to arrange the light-emitting elements ED,and a second insulating material layer PAS2′ may be formed thereon toaffix the light-emitting elements ED. In an embodiment, thelight-emitting element ED may be prepared in a state of being dispersedin an ink and may be sprayed on the emission area EMA by an inkjetprinting process. The second bank BNL2 may prevent the ink fromoverflowing to the emission area EMA of another adjacent subpixel PXn.In cast that the ink is sprayed on the emission area EMA, an alignmentsignal may be applied to the first electrode line RM1 and the secondelectrode line RM2 to generate an electric field thereon. While thelight-emitting elements ED dispersed in the ink receive adielectrophoretic force by the generated electric field, and theposition and orientation direction thereof are changed, both endportions thereof may be disposed on the different electrode lines RM1and RM2.

Since the first electrode line RM1 and the second electrode line RM2 aredisposed closer to each other at portions thereof disposed on the firstsub-bank BNL_A and the second sub-bank BNL_B, a stronger electric fieldmay be generated, and thus, most of the light-emitting elements ED maybe disposed between the first sub-bank BNL_A and the second sub-bankBNL_B. Since a distance between the first electrode line RM1 and thesecond electrode line RM2 may be greater at portions thereof at whichthe first sub-banks BNL_A are spaced apart from each other in the seconddirection DR2, an electric field with relatively weak intensity may begenerated, and the light-emitting elements ED may not be disposed.

An electric field may be generated on each of the first and secondelectrode lines RM1 and RM2 according to alignment signals appliedthereto. The electric field may have a direction from an electrode towhich an alignment signal is applied to an electrode to which anotheralignment signal is applied, and the orientation direction of thelight-emitting elements ED may be determined according to the directionin which the electric field is directed. During the manufacturingprocess of the display device 10_4, since different alignment signalsare applied to the first electrode line RM1 and the second electrodeline RM2, the electric field may be directed toward the second sub-bankBNL_B disposed at a central portion of the emission area EMA, and thelight-emitting elements ED may also be disposed such that the first endportions thereof are placed on electrodes on the second sub-bank BNL_B.Accordingly, the first light-emitting element ED1 and the secondlight-emitting element ED2 may be disposed such that the first endportions thereof are placed on the third electrode RME3_4 and the secondelectrode RME2_4, and the orientation directions thereof may be oppositeto each other. The third light-emitting element ED3 and the fourthlight-emitting element ED4 may also disposed such that the first endportions thereof are placed on the fifth electrode RME5_4 and theseventh electrode RME7_4, and the orientation directions thereof may beopposite to each other.

In case that the light-emitting elements ED are disposed, a secondinsulating material layer PAS2′ for affixing the light-emitting elementsED may be formed. Referring to FIG. 24 taken along line Q10-Q10′ of FIG.23, the second insulating material layer PAS2′ may be disposed on thefirst insulating layer PAS1 and the light-emitting elements ED in theemission area EMA. The light-emitting elements ED may be overlapped bythe second insulating material layer PAS2′, and a position at which thelight-emitting elements ED are aligned on the electrode lines RM1 andRM2 may be affixed. A position at which the light-emitting elements EDare initially aligned may not be changed in a subsequent process offorming the contact electrodes.

Referring to FIG. 25, in case that the light-emitting elements ED aredisposed, the electrode lines RM1 and RM2 may be separated at electrodeseparation parts ROP of the emission area EMA and the cutout area CBA. Afirst electrode separation part ROP1 may be positioned in a portion ofthe emission area EMA in which the first sub-banks BNL_A are spacedapart from each other in the second direction DR2. Only a weak electricfield may be generated in the portion in which the first sub-banks BNL_Aare spaced apart from each other in the second direction DR2 so thatmost of the light-emitting elements ED may not be disposed in thatportion.

A second electrode separation part ROP2 may be positioned in the cutoutarea CBA. In case that the electrode lines RM1 and RM1 are separated bythe second electrode separation part ROP2, electrodes disposed in eachsubpixel PXn may be separated from each other and thus may be separatelydriven. The electrodes separated and formed by the electrode separationparts ROP1 and ROP2 may include the first type electrodes and the secondtype electrodes, and the light-emitting elements ED may be classifiedinto the first to fourth light-emitting elements ED1, ED2, ED3, and ED4.

Subsequently, although not shown in the drawing, the contact portionsCTD, CTS, and CTF and the contact electrodes CNE1_4, CNE2_4, CNE3_4, andCNE4_4, and CNE5_4 may be formed to manufacture the display device 10_4.

The embodiment may include the electrodes RME1_4, RME4_4, RME6_4, andRME8_4 having a partially bent shape, and the electrodes RME2_4, RME3_4,RME5_4, and RME7_4 disposed therebetween and having an extended shape,and thus, more light-emitting elements ED may be disposed for eachsubpixel PXn. Since more electrodes are disposed for each subpixel PXn,a width of the emission area EMA measured in the first direction DR1 maybe increased. However, since the electrodes are disposed in the emissionarea EMA to be spaced apart from each other in the second direction DR2,a current path may be formed through the second type contact electrode.Some of the light-emitting elements ED arranged in the second directionDR2 may be electrically connected in series through the second typecontact electrode so that the luminance of each subpixel PXn may befurther improved. Furthermore, since the number of the light-emittingelements ED electrically connected in series is increased, even in casethat some light-emitting elements ED are short-circuited, otherlight-emitting elements ED electrically connected in series may emitlight, thereby preventing the light emission defects of the subpixelPXn.

FIG. 26 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of adisplay device according to yet another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 26, a display device 10_5 according to an embodimentmay include openings OP1, OP2, and OP3 penetrating through a secondinsulating layer PAS2 and a third insulating layer PAS3. The openingsOP1, OP2, and OP3 may be formed in a process of forming the thirdinsulating layer PAS3 before a first contact electrode CNE1_5 and asecond contact electrode CNE2_5 are disposed. The embodiment isdifferent from the embodiment of FIG. 18 at least in that the displaydevice 10_5 further includes some openings OP1, OP2, and OP3. Thearrangements of electrodes and contact electrodes of the display device10_5 may be the same as those in the embodiment of FIG. 18. In thedrawing, only first, second, third, and eighth electrodes RME1_5,RME2_5, RME3_5, and RME8_5, and only first, second, third, and fifthcontact electrodes CNE1_5, CNE2_5, CNE3_5, and CNE5_5 are illustrated.Hereinafter, redundant descriptions will be omitted, and differenceswill be mainly described.

In a manufacturing process of the display device 10_5, afterlight-emitting elements ED are disposed, processes of forming the secondinsulating layer PAS2, some of the contact electrodes, the thirdinsulating layer PAS3, and the remaining contact electrodes may besequentially performed. Insulating material layers including materialsforming the second insulating layer PAS2 and the third insulating layerPAS3 may be entirely formed on a first insulating layer PAS1 and thenmay be partially patterned to form the second insulating layer PAS2 andthe third insulating layer PAS3. In such a patterning process, theinsulating material layer overlapping the light-emitting elements ED maybe partially removed to expose end portions of the light-emittingelements ED, and the contact electrodes formed thereafter mayelectrically contact the light-emitting elements ED.

For example, after the light-emitting elements ED are disposed onelectrodes RME, a first insulating material layer including the materialconstituting the second insulating layer PAS2 may be disposed to overlapthe first insulating layer PAS1 and the light-emitting elements ED. Thefirst insulating material layer may be patterned to expose end portionsof the light-emitting elements ED, for example, end portions of firstlight-emitting elements ED1 disposed on the third electrode RME3_5 andend portions of second light-emitting elements ED2 disposed on theeighth electrode RME8_5. Subsequently, the third contact electrodeCNE3_5 and the fifth contact electrode CNE5_5 may be formed so that theexposed end portions of the first light-emitting element ED1 and thesecond light-emitting element ED2 may electrically contact the thirdcontact electrode CNE3_5 and the fifth contact electrode CNE5_5,respectively.

After the third contact electrode CNE3_5 and the fifth contact electrodeCNE5_5 are formed, a second insulating material layer including thematerial constituting the third insulating layer PAS3 may overlap thethird contact electrode CNE3_5, the fifth contact electrode CNE5_5, andthe first insulating material layer. The second insulating materiallayer may be patterned to expose opposite end portions of thelight-emitting elements ED, for example, end portions of the firstlight-emitting elements ED1 disposed on the first electrode RME1_5 andend portions of the second light-emitting elements ED2 disposed on thesecond electrode RME2_5. Subsequently, the first contact electrodeCNE1_5 and the second contact electrode CNE2_5 may be formed so that theexposed end portions of the first light-emitting element ED1 and thesecond light-emitting element ED2 may electrically contact the firstcontact electrode CNE1_5 and the second contact electrode CNE2_5,respectively.

In a patterning process of the second insulating material layer, thefirst insulating material layer under the second insulating materiallayer may be simultaneously patterned to form the second insulatinglayer PAS2 and the third insulating layer PAS3. In the patterningprocess, the openings OP1, OP2, and OP3 penetrating through the thirdinsulating layer PAS3 and the second insulating layer PAS2 may beformed.

A first opening OP1 and a second opening OP2 may be formed to expose anend portion of the first light-emitting element ED1 and an end portionof the second light-emitting element ED2, respectively. For example, thefirst opening OP1 may be formed to expose an end portion of the firstlight-emitting element ED1 disposed on the first electrode RME1_5. Thefirst opening OP1 may be disposed on the first electrode RME1_5 andformed over a first sub-bank BNL_A and a portion of the firstlight-emitting element ED1. The second opening OP2 may be formed toexpose an end portion of the second light-emitting element ED2 disposedon the second electrode RME2_5. The second opening OP2 may be disposedon the second electrode RME2_5 and formed over the second sub-bank BNL_Band a portion of the second light-emitting element ED2. Although notshown in the drawing, the first opening OP1 and the second opening OP2may be formed in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. 18.

In addition to the first opening OP1 and the second opening OP2 exposingend portions of the light-emitting elements ED, the display device 10_5according to the embodiment may include a third opening OP3 that doesnot expose end portions of the light-emitting elements ED and exposes aportion of an upper surface of the first insulating layer PAS1. Thethird opening OP3 may be formed at a side opposite to the first openingOP1 based on a second sub-bank BNL_B. However, the third opening OP3 maybe formed to overlap only an electrode disposed on the first sub-bankBNL_A, for example, the eighth electrode RME8_5, and may be formed notto expose the light-emitting element ED. The third opening OP3 may beformed in a portion of the eighth electrode RME8_5 disposed on the firstsub-bank BNL_A to penetrate through the third insulating layer PAS3 andthe second insulating layer PAS2.

The upper surface of the first insulating layer PAS1 may be partiallyexposed in the first opening OP1, the second opening OP2, and the thirdopening OP3. The first contact electrode CNE1_5 and the second contactelectrode CNE2 _5 may be partially disposed on the first insulatinglayer PAS1 exposed in the first opening OP1 and the second opening OP2.For example, the first contact electrode CNE1_5 may be partiallydisposed in the first opening OP1, and the second contact electrode CNE2_5 may be partially disposed in the second opening OP2. In contrast, thethird opening OP3 may have a width relatively smaller than that of thefirst opening OP1 and the second opening OP2. In the third opening OP3,the contact electrodes may not be disposed, and the upper surface of thefirst insulating layer PAS1 may be exposed. The third opening OP3 may beformed to be spaced apart from the fifth contact electrode CNE5_5closest thereto.

As described above, light generated in the light-emitting element ED maybe emitted to both end portions thereof and may not be smoothly emittedbecause of a difference in refractive index between the first insulatinglayer PAS1 and the contact electrodes. Light emitted from both endportions of the light-emitting element ED and travels in the firstinsulating layer PAS1 may be emitted from the exposed portion of theupper surface of the first insulating layer PAS1 in an upward directionof a first substrate SUB. Since the first opening OP1 exposes an endportion of the first light-emitting element ED1 disposed on the firstelectrode RME1_5 and simultaneously exposes a portion of the uppersurface of the first insulating layer PAS1, light emitted from the endportion of the light-emitting element ED1 may be easily emitted throughthe upper surface of the first insulating layer PAS1 exposed in thefirst opening OP1. Similarly, the third opening OP3 may expose an endportion of the second light-emitting element ED2 disposed on the eighthelectrode RME8_5 and may expose a portion of the upper surface of thefirst insulating layer PAS1. In addition to interfaces between the firstinsulating layer PAS1 and the contact electrodes, light reflection dueto a difference in refractive index may also occur at an interfacebetween the first insulating layer PAS1 and the second insulating layerPAS2 or the third insulating layer PAS3. Since the third opening OP3 isformed to expose the upper surface of the first insulating layer PAS1,light emitted from the end portion of the second light-emitting elementED2 may be emitted through the upper surface of the insulating layerPAS1 exposed in the third opening OP3.

The display device 10_5 according to the embodiment may include anopening (for example, the third opening OP3) that provides an emissionpath of light emitted from the light-emitting element ED in addition toopenings (for example, the first opening OP1 and the second opening OP2)that expose end portions of the light-emitting elements ED. Since thedisplay device 10_5 includes the openings OP1, OP2, and OP3, lightreflection due to a difference in refractive index between the firstinsulating layer PAS1 and another layer may be reduced, thereby furtherimproving the luminous efficiency of the light-emitting element ED.

FIG. 26 illustrates a cross section traversing the first electrodeRME1_5, the third electrode RME3_5, the second electrode RME2_5, and theeighth electrode RME8_5 as in FIG. 18. The openings OP1, OP2, and OP3may also be disposed on portions of a fourth electrode RME4, a fifthelectrode RME5, a seventh electrode RME7, and a sixth electrode RME6.Referring to FIGS. 17 and 26, the first opening OP1 may be formed overthe sixth electrode RME6 and an end portion of a fourth light-emittingelement ED4 in addition to the first electrode RME1_5, and the secondopening OP2 may be formed over the fifth electrode RME5_4 and an endportion of a third light-emitting element ED3 in addition to the secondelectrode RME2_5. The third opening OP3 may be partially formed on thefourth electrode RME4_4 in addition to the eighth electrode RME8_5.However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 27 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of adisplay device according to yet another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 27, in a display device 10_6 according to anembodiment, contact electrodes CNE may be formed to have a larger width,and both sides of some contact electrodes may be disposed to be placedon a second insulating layer PAS2. For example, in a third contactelectrode CNE3_6 and a fifth contact electrode CNE5_5, which are contactelectrodes disposed between the second insulating layer PAS2 and a thirdinsulating layer PAS3, first sides thereof may be disposed on the secondinsulating layer PAS2 placed on light-emitting elements ED, and secondsides thereof may be disposed on the second insulating layer PAS2 placedon a first sub-bank BNL_A and a second sub-bank BNL_B. The embodiment isdifferent from the embodiment of FIG. 26 at least in that the contactelectrodes have a larger width. The arrangement of electrodes andcontact electrodes of the display device 10_6 may be identical to thatof the embodiment of FIG. 26. In the drawing, only first, second, third,and eighth electrodes RME1_6, RME2_6, RME3_6, and RME8_6, and onlyfirst, second, third, and fifth contact electrodes CNE1_6, CNE2_6,CNE3_6, and CNE5_6 are illustrated. Hereinafter, redundant descriptionswill be omitted.

In a display device according to an embodiment, since a contactelectrode electrically connecting a light-emitting element and anelectrode may have a minimum width, it is possible to reduce an amountof light emitted from the light-emitting element that is lost withoutbeing emitted from an insulating layer under the light-emitting element.Since a contact portion, through which a contact electrode and anelectrode electrically contact each other, is disposed to avoid anoptical path of the light, it is possible to minimize an interfacebetween the contact electrode and the insulating layer, and it ispossible to improve the luminous efficiency of the light emitted fromthe light-emitting element of each subpixel.

In concluding the detailed description, those skilled in the art willappreciate that many variations and modifications may be made to theembodiments without substantially departing from the principles of thedisclosure. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments of the disclosure areused in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a substrate; a firstelectrode and a second electrode which are disposed on the substrate,extend in a first direction, and are spaced apart from each other in asecond direction; a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed on thefirst electrode and the second electrode and spaced apart from eachother in the first direction; a first contact electrode disposed on thefirst electrode and electrically contacting the plurality oflight-emitting elements; and a second contact electrode disposed on thesecond electrode and electrically contacting the plurality oflight-emitting elements, wherein the first contact electrodeelectrically contacts the first electrode through a first contactportion disposed on the first electrode, the second contact electrodeelectrically contacts the second electrode through a second contactportion disposed on the second electrode, the first contact portion isdisposed on an end portion in the first direction of the first contactelectrode, and the second contact portion is disposed on an end portionin the first direction of the second contact electrode.
 2. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements arenot disposed between the first contact portion and the second contactportion spaced apart from each other in the second direction.
 3. Thedisplay device of claim 2, wherein a light-emitting element area is anarea in which the plurality of light-emitting elements are disposed, andthe first contact portion and the second contact portion are spacedapart from the light-emitting element area in the first direction. 4.The display device of claim 1, further comprising: an interlayerinsulating layer disposed on the substrate; and a plurality of banksdisposed between the interlayer insulating layer and the first andsecond electrodes, wherein the first electrode and the second electrodeeach include a first portion disposed directly on the interlayerinsulating layer and a second portion connected to the first portion anddisposed directly on the plurality of banks.
 5. The display device ofclaim 4, wherein the first contact electrode is disposed on the firstportion of the first electrode, the second contact electrode is disposedon the first portion of the second electrode, and the first contactportion and the second contact portion are disposed on the first portionof the first electrode and the first portion of the second electrode,respectively.
 6. The display device of claim 4, wherein the firstelectrode and the second electrode each include a third portion thatconnects the first portion and the second portion, and a length of thefirst portion in the first direction is greater than a length of thethird portion in the first direction.
 7. The display device of claim 6,wherein a distance between the first portion of the first electrode andthe first portion of the second electrode is smaller than a distancebetween the second portion of the first electrode and the second portionof the second electrode.
 8. The display device of claim 4, wherein awidth of the first electrode and the second electrode is greater than awidth of the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode.9. The display device of claim 4, wherein a distance between the firstcontact electrode and the second contact electrode is smaller than adistance between the first portion of the first electrode and the firstportion of the second electrode.
 10. The display device of claim 4,wherein a distance between the first portion of the first electrode andthe first portion of the second electrode is smaller than a length ofthe light-emitting element in the second direction.
 11. The displaydevice of claim 1, further comprising a first insulating layer thatpartially overlaps the first electrode and the second electrode, whereinthe first contact portion and the second contact portion penetratethrough the first insulating layer to expose a portion of the firstelectrode and a portion of the second electrode, respectively.
 12. Thedisplay device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of light-emittingelements are disposed directly on the first insulating layer.
 13. Adisplay device comprising: a substrate; a plurality of banks disposed onthe substrate; a first electrode and a second electrode which arerespectively disposed on the plurality of banks that are different fromeach other, extend in a first direction, and are spaced apart from eachother in a second direction; a plurality of light-emitting elementsdisposed on the first electrode and the second electrode and spacedapart from each other in the first direction; a first contact electrodedisposed on the first electrode and electrically contacting theplurality of light-emitting elements; and a second contact electrodedisposed on the second electrode and electrically contacting theplurality of light-emitting elements, wherein the first contactelectrode electrically contacts the first electrode through a firstcontact portion disposed on the first electrode, the second contactelectrode electrically contacts the second electrode through a secondcontact portion disposed on the second electrode, and the first contactportion and the second contact portion are spaced apart from theplurality of light-emitting elements in a direction between the firstdirection and the second direction.
 14. The display device of claim 13,wherein the first electrode and the second electrode each include afirst portion disposed directly on an interlayer insulating layer and asecond portion connected to the first portion and disposed directly onthe plurality of banks, and the first contact portion and the secondcontact portion are disposed on the second portion of the firstelectrode and the second portion of the second electrode, respectively.15. The display device of claim 14, wherein the first contact electrodeand the second contact electrode each include: a contact electrodeextension part disposed on the first portion; a contact electrodecontact part disposed on the first contact portion or the second contactportion; and a contact electrode connection part that electricallyconnects the contact electrode extension part and the contact electrodecontact part, and the contact electrode connection part of each of thefirst and second contact electrodes is spaced apart from the pluralityof light-emitting elements in the first direction.
 16. A display devicecomprising: a substrate; a first electrode and a second electrode whichare disposed on the substrate, extend in a first direction, and arespaced apart from each other in a second direction; a third electrodespaced apart from the first electrode and the second electrode in thesecond direction between the first electrode and the second electrode; afourth electrode spaced apart from the first electrode in the firstdirection; light-emitting elements which include: first light-emittingelements having first and second end portions disposed on the firstelectrode and the third electrode, respectively; and secondlight-emitting elements having first end portions disposed on the secondelectrode; a first contact electrode disposed on the first electrode andelectrically contacting the first light-emitting elements; a secondcontact electrode disposed on the second electrode and electricallycontacting the second light-emitting elements; and a third contactelectrode disposed on the third electrode and electrically contactingthe first light-emitting elements, wherein the first contact electrodeelectrically contacts the first electrode through a first contactportion disposed on the first electrode, the second contact electrodeelectrically contacts the second electrode through a second contactportion disposed on the second electrode, the third contact electrodeelectrically contacts the third electrode through a third contactportion disposed on the third electrode, the second contact portion isdisposed on an end portion of the second contact electrode in the firstdirection, and the third contact portion is disposed on an end portionof the third contact electrode in the first direction.
 17. The displaydevice of claim 16, wherein the second electrode includes an electrodeprotrusion protruding from a side of the second electrode in the seconddirection, the third electrode includes an electrode protrusionprotruding from a side of the third electrode in the second direction,and the second contact portion and the third contact portion aredisposed on the electrode protrusion of the second electrode and theelectrode protrusion of the third electrode, respectively.
 18. Thedisplay device of claim 16, wherein the first electrode includes: afirst electrode extension part extending in the first direction; and anelectrode connection part electrically connected to a side of the firstelectrode extension part in the first direction and extending in thesecond direction, and the first light-emitting elements are disposed onthe first electrode extension part of the first electrode and the thirdelectrode.
 19. The display device of claim 18, wherein the first contactportion is disposed on the electrode connection part of the firstelectrode, and the first contact electrode includes: a contact electrodeextension part electrically contacting the first light-emittingelements; and a contact electrode contact part electrically connected tothe contact electrode extension part and disposed on the first contactportion.
 20. The display device of claim 16, further comprising aconductive layer including a voltage line and a conductive patterndisposed on the substrate, wherein the first electrode is connecteddirectly to the conductive pattern, and the second electrode isconnected directly to the voltage line.
 21. The display device of claim16, further comprising: a fifth electrode spaced apart from the fourthelectrode in the second direction and spaced apart from the thirdelectrode in the first direction; a sixth electrode spaced apart fromthe fifth electrode in the second direction; a seventh electrodedisposed between the fifth electrode and the sixth electrode and spacedapart from the second electrode in the first direction; and an eighthelectrode spaced apart from the sixth electrode in the first directionand spaced apart from the second electrode in the second direction,wherein the light-emitting elements include: third light-emittingelements disposed on the fourth electrode and the fifth electrode; andfourth light-emitting elements disposed on the sixth electrode and theseventh electrode, and second end portions of the second light-emittingelements are disposed on the eighth electrode.
 22. The display device ofclaim 21, wherein the third contact electrode includes a part disposedon the fourth electrode and electrically contacting the thirdlight-emitting elements, and the third contact electrode electricallycontacts the fourth electrode through a contact portion spaced apartfrom the third light-emitting elements in a direction between the firstdirection and the second direction.
 23. The display device of claim 21,further comprising: a fourth contact electrode disposed on the fifthelectrode and the sixth electrode and electrically contacting the fifthelectrode and the sixth electrode through a plurality of contactportions; and a fifth contact electrode disposed on the seventhelectrode and the eighth electrode and electrically contacting theseventh electrode and the eighth electrode through a plurality ofcontact portions, wherein some of the plurality of contact portionsdisposed on the fifth to the eighth electrodes are spaced apart from thelight-emitting elements in the first direction.
 24. The display deviceof claim 23, wherein at least some of the plurality of contact portionsdisposed on the fifth to eighth electrodes are disposed to be spacedapart from the light-emitting elements in a direction between the firstdirection and the second direction.
 25. The display device of claim 16,wherein the first contact portion is spaced apart from thelight-emitting elements in a direction between the first direction andthe second direction.
 26. The display device of claim 23, furthercomprising: a first insulating layer that partially overlaps the firstto eighth electrodes; a second insulating layer partially disposed onthe light-emitting elements and the first insulating layer; and a thirdinsulating layer that overlaps the second insulating layer, the thirdcontact electrode, and the fourth contact electrode, wherein theplurality of contact portions penetrate through the first insulatinglayer.
 27. The display device of claim 26, further comprising aplurality of openings that penetrate through the second insulating layerand the third insulating layer to expose a portion of an upper surfaceof the first insulating layer, wherein the plurality of openingsinclude: a first opening formed over a portion of the first electrodeand the first end portions of the first light-emitting elements; asecond opening formed over a portion of the second electrode and thefirst end portions of the second light-emitting elements; and a thirdopening partially formed on the eighth electrode.
 28. The display deviceof claim 27, wherein the first contact electrode is partially disposedin the first opening, the second contact electrode is partially disposedin the second opening, and the third opening is formed to be spaced fromthe fifth contact electrode.